Social media applications can significantly impact English language learning in the classroom and outside of it thanks to new technologies and the widespread use of mobile devices. This paper compares the effectiveness of teaching English through Instagram and TikTok educational online blogs and online courses to traditional academic education to improve students' performance and increase their motivation to learn the language. This study's methodology relied on a quasi-experiment using online questionnaires and statistical data processing. The findings revealed that, of the three main types of videos for English language learning, students preferred authenticity-centred videos the most, with 128 participants (68.45%) preferring authenticity-centred videos, 17 participants (9.09%) preferring research-centred videos, and 42 participants (22.46%) preferring exam-centred videos. Meanwhile, the main disadvantages of using English language textbooks were their limited learning resources and rigid learning content, which did not encourage an interest in learning and knowledge expansion. The vast majority of participants also supported using Instagram and TikTok as video teaching tools in EFL classes because they could boost students' motivation and interest in learning English in the classroom, add to lesson plans, and broaden their English language proficiency. Most participants were also open to using these social media platforms as an extracurricular English learning strategy. According to the study's findings, students who took part in it support using mobile technologies in the classroom, which means that it is an effective tool for teaching and learning English. The study is important from a practical standpoint because it advances the understanding of how new image-based social media platforms enable informal language learning online. Furthermore, the findings can be applied to further research into new technologies and methods of teaching English as a foreign language.