Practical examples of how to share content from a mobile app

Real‑world examples of how to share content from a mobile app

Instead of starting with theory, let’s jump straight into real examples of how to share content from a mobile app you probably use every day. Once you see the patterns, you’ll notice that most apps behave in very similar ways.

Think of sharing in two big buckets:

• Sharing out of an app (sending something from one app to another person or app)
• Sharing within an app (sending to contacts or groups inside that same app)

Both buckets rely on the same basic building blocks: the share icon, your phone’s system share sheet, and in‑app options like “Send to friend.”

Everyday examples of sharing from popular mobile apps

Here are some of the best examples of how to share content from a mobile app in daily life, explained step by step in plain language.

1. Sharing an article from a news app to a messaging app

Imagine you’re reading a long‑form article in the New York Times app and you want to send it to a friend on WhatsApp.

Most news apps use the standard share icon (a box with an upward arrow on iOS, or three dots connected by lines, or the word Share on Android):

• You tap the share icon in the article toolbar.
• Your phone’s share sheet slides up from the bottom.
• At the top, you see suggested contacts or apps (Messages, WhatsApp, Gmail, etc.).
• You tap WhatsApp, choose your friend, add a quick note, and hit Send.

That’s one of the cleanest examples of how to share content from a mobile app: the app hands the link to your phone’s system, and your phone passes it along to another app.

2. Sharing a photo from your Photos or Gallery app to social media

Photos are another classic example of how to share content from a mobile app. Let’s say you want to share a vacation photo from your phone’s Photos app to Instagram.

On both iOS and Android, the pattern is similar:

• Open the Photos (iOS) or Gallery/Photos (Android) app.
• Open the photo you like.
• Tap the share icon.
• In the share sheet, tap Instagram.
• Depending on the app, you might be taken into Instagram’s editor where you can crop, add filters, and write a caption.

You’ve just moved content from a system app (Photos) into a social app (Instagram) using the same share mechanism you used for a news article.

3. Sharing a video from TikTok or YouTube

Short‑form video apps give some of the most recognizable examples of how to share content from a mobile app.

On TikTok:

• Tap the arrow icon on the right side of the video.
• A panel appears with options like Send to, Copy link, Save video, and social icons.
• You can share directly to a friend inside TikTok, or tap a messaging app icon to send it outside TikTok.

On YouTube:

• Tap Share under the video.
• Choose Copy link if you want to paste it somewhere else, or pick an app like Messages, Email, or Facebook.

These are great examples because they blend in‑app sharing (sending to people inside TikTok or YouTube) with system sharing (using your phone’s share sheet to send the link elsewhere).

4. Sharing a location from Google Maps or Apple Maps

Location sharing is now part of daily life, especially when meeting friends or sharing your ETA.

In Google Maps:

• Tap and hold on a point on the map, or open a place listing.
• Tap Share.
• Choose Share via link, Messages, WhatsApp, or another app.

In Apple Maps:

• Open a place.
• Tap the share icon.
• Pick Messages, Mail, or another app.

These examples of how to share content from a mobile app highlight a key idea: you’re not just sharing media; you’re sharing rich data (coordinates, directions, ETA) wrapped inside a link.

5. Sharing a document from a cloud storage app (Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox)

Work apps provide some of the most practical examples of how to share content from a mobile app.

In Google Drive:

• Open the file’s three‑dot menu.
• Tap Share.
• You can either add people by email (Google’s own sharing system) or tap Copy link to share via your favorite app.

In OneDrive or Dropbox:

• The pattern is similar: open the menu, look for Share, then choose whether to invite people directly or copy a shareable link.

Here you see two layers of sharing: the app’s own permission system (who can open the file) and the system share sheet (how you send the link).

6. Sharing a payment request from a finance app (PayPal, Venmo, Cash App)

Money apps are strong modern examples of how to share content from a mobile app because they mix security with convenience.

In Venmo:

• Create a payment request.
• Instead of sending it only to Venmo contacts, you can often tap a share or link icon.
• Venmo generates a link you can send via text, email, or social apps.

In PayPal:

• Use Request or Share your link.
• Copy the link or tap a messaging app in the share sheet.

These examples include an extra layer of awareness: you’re sharing something that can move money, so double‑check who you’re sending it to.

7. Sharing health or fitness data from a wellness app

Health and fitness apps have grown significantly through 2024–2025, and they offer thoughtful examples of how to share content from a mobile app while staying mindful of privacy.

In Apple Health or Google Fit, you might:

• Open a daily summary (steps, heart rate, workout).
• Tap the share icon to export a PDF summary or share a screenshot.
• Send that file to your doctor via email or a secure patient portal app.

For medical information or guidance on what’s appropriate to share with a healthcare provider, organizations like the National Institutes of Health and Mayo Clinic provide helpful background on health data and privacy.

These are strong examples because they show how sharing isn’t just social; it can support your health, as long as you choose trusted channels.

8. Sharing a calendar event or invite

Calendar apps quietly offer some of the best examples of how to share content from a mobile app in a work setting.

In Google Calendar or Apple Calendar:

• Create or open an event.
• Tap Add guests or Invitees to share directly via email.
• Or tap the share icon (where available) to send event details as a message.

You’re not just sharing text; you’re sharing structured data that your friend’s or coworker’s calendar app can understand and add automatically.

Common patterns: how sharing works behind the scenes

Once you’ve seen a few real examples of how to share content from a mobile app, the patterns get easier to spot.

The share icon and share sheet

Most apps rely on your phone’s share sheet:

• On iOS, this is the panel that appears from the bottom with rows of apps and actions.
• On Android, it’s the similar panel that lists apps and sometimes suggested contacts.

Any time you see:

• A square with an upward arrow
• Three dots linked by lines
• The word Share in a menu

…you’re probably a tap away from the share sheet. From there, you can move content between apps without needing to copy and paste manually.

In‑app sharing vs. system sharing

The best examples of how to share content from a mobile app blend two approaches:

• In‑app sharing: Sending something to people who also use that app (like sending a post to a friend inside Instagram, or a file to a teammate inside Slack).
• System sharing: Using the share sheet to send content to other apps (like sending that same post to your group chat in Messages or WhatsApp).

Understanding the difference helps you avoid mistakes like posting something publicly when you meant to send it privately.

Privacy‑aware examples of how to share content from a mobile app

Not all sharing is equal. Some things are fine to post publicly; others should stay in private channels.

Sharing personal data (health, finance, identity)

When sharing:

• Health summaries or lab results
• Bank statements or payment links
• Photos of ID or travel documents

Use secure, private channels. For health information, many clinics now provide secure patient portals; the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services explains why protected health information needs extra care.

A smart pattern is:

• Export from the app (PDF, screenshot, or link).
• Share only through apps you trust (encrypted messengers, official patient portals, or email accounts you control).

These privacy‑aware examples of how to share content from a mobile app matter more as apps handle increasingly sensitive data.

Controlling what others can see

Before you share, quickly check:

• Preview: Does the preview show more than you intended (like a full chat screen instead of just one message)?
• Metadata: Some photos include location data; many apps let you strip that out before sharing.
• Permissions: Cloud files can often be set to “View only” to avoid unwanted edits.

These small checks turn basic examples of how to share content from a mobile app into safer, more thoughtful habits.

2024–2025 trends that change how we share

Sharing isn’t frozen in time; it keeps evolving as platforms add features.

Cross‑device and cross‑platform sharing

Modern systems are better at letting you:

• Start on your phone and continue on your laptop.
• Share from a mobile app into a web app version of the same service.

For example, you might share a Google Doc link from the mobile app into Slack, then open that same link on your desktop to keep working. This cross‑device pattern has become one of the best examples of how to share content from a mobile app in a hybrid work world.

Safer sharing defaults

Many apps now:

• Default to private when you share something sensitive.
• Warn you before posting something publicly.
• Offer temporary or expiring links.

You’ll see this in messaging apps that offer disappearing messages and in document tools that limit access by default. These smarter defaults are changing the everyday examples of how to share content from a mobile app, nudging people toward safer habits.

Tips to make sharing from mobile apps faster and less frustrating

Once you’re comfortable with the examples above, a few habits make sharing smoother:

• Pin your favorite apps in the share sheet where possible, so they appear first.
• Use “Copy link" when you’re not sure which app you’ll use; it’s the most flexible option.
• Check the destination (chat vs. group vs. public feed) before tapping send.
• Use in‑app share options when you want app‑specific features, like reactions, read receipts, or collaboration tools.

These small tweaks turn the basic examples of how to share content from a mobile app into a personal workflow that actually fits your day.

FAQ: examples of how to share content from a mobile app

Q1: What are some simple examples of how to share content from a mobile app for beginners?
A few easy starting points include sharing a news article from a news app to Messages, sending a photo from your Photos app to Instagram, or copying a YouTube link and pasting it into a group chat. These are the best examples for learning the share icon and the share sheet without dealing with complex settings.

Q2: Can you give an example of sharing something privately instead of posting it publicly?
Yes. Instead of tapping “Share to Story” in Instagram, you can use the Send to option to send a post directly to a single friend or a small group. Another example of private sharing is copying a Google Drive link set to “Restricted” and emailing it only to specific coworkers.

Q3: What are examples of content I should not casually share from mobile apps?
Avoid casually sharing anything that exposes personal health data, financial details, Social Security numbers, or passwords. For health‑related information, organizations like Mayo Clinic and NIH offer guidance on sensitive medical data and why it should be handled carefully.

Q4: How do I share app content with someone who doesn’t use the same app?
Most apps provide a Copy link option in their share menu. That link can be pasted into text messages, email, or any other app. For example, you can share a podcast episode link from Spotify with a friend who uses Apple Podcasts; their app will often recognize the show or episode.

Q5: Are there examples of how to share content from a mobile app without using social media at all?
Absolutely. You can share a PDF from a cloud storage app via email, send a map location via SMS, or export a workout summary as a file and upload it to a patient portal. None of those require social media, but they still use the same basic sharing patterns you’ve seen in the other examples.