When you're stuck at your desk all day, it seems pointless to have social apps on your phone, other than the likes of the all important Twitter and Facebook of course. So which are worth downloading and which others should you just wait until you're at your laptop to sign into?
Obviously if you don't use a certain social network or blogging platform anyway, it seems silly to download its dedicated app. However, you might find that experimenting with the apps of different networks and platforms could change your whole experience and turn you into a devoted user... or just annoy you even more.
Although some social networks are more popular then others, I find the platforms you choose to use on a regular basis can vary greatly from person to person, so feel free to let us know which social apps you use in the comments below, or on Twitter! I'm sure some will be very different to my top choices.
Pinterest
I've been a big fan of the pinboard-style sharing platform Pinterest for a while now and prefer it over the likes of Tumblr and We Heart It for sharing and curating interesting images and snippets. The Pinterest app is just as addictive and super simple to use with the same eye-pleasing, grid-like interface, you can see the 'pins' of those you're following, explore different pins based on categories, view your own profile and take photos with your mobile's camera to pin things right away.
The fact you can instantly upload photos yourself is great for those who prefer to create their own content rather than continually re-blog the work of others.
The Pinterest app is free, but unfortunately only available for those with iOS devices.
Wordpress
If your blog runs on Wordpress, then its worth downloading the app for your mobile too. One of the things I like most about the Wordpress app is that it comes with a quick photo option which allows you to instantly upload an image. This works very well alongside reviews and makes a nice change to only uploading heavily edited photo content. However, if like me you tend to use your blog to write lengthier posts, the app is still a useful way to check and approve comments or look at viewing stats and figures. You can also add multiple blog accounts, so if you have more than one you can switch between them really easily.
Obviously there are plenty of other great apps depending on which platform you prefer to use, such as Posterous and Tumblr.
The Wordpress app is free for all kinds of devices, including iOS, Android, Nokia and Blackberry.
Google+
In all honesty I'm not a devoted Google+ user quite yet. I've been trialling the new social network for a few weeks and have read countless articles and opinion pieces about it, including this column from BitchBuzz's K. A. Laity last week about the minuses of Google+, but it's yet to become something I use out of habit or depend on in any way.
Having said that I know I'm not the only user who feels Google+ makes much more sense now I've started using the mobile app. I can imagine there are many reasons why others may or may not prefer using the Google+ app, but for me it's the fact it strips the network bare and also means there's less chance I'll be tempted to click away elsewhere and check my mail or browse around Google Reader.
The Google+ app is free for iOS and Android devices.
Instagram
Instagram is an app I've written about a few times before and probably use far too much. However, my personal use of Instagram has gone well beyond the appeal of just applying a filter here and there and is much more about sharing with the rest of the Instagram community. The app itself couldn't be easier to use, just take a photo or chose one from your camera roll, apply a filter to it if you'd like and then share. It also adds to the experience that there are an increasing number of web-based apps available to view Instagram photos with too.
Instagram is free for iOS devices.
Becca Caddy is a BitchBuzz Tech columnist and freelance writer. She also writes for a number of international tech blogs, including Popgadget and The Future is Entertaining. You can read her personal blog beccacaddy.com or watch her rant on Twitter @beccacaddy.
Screenshot images via the Apple Store and Android Market.