Social Media Basics: Popular Online Forums for Social Media Interaction
Recent studies show that there are nearly 5 billion social media users across the world. With social media so popular, understanding social media basics is crucial to modern-day socialization. But how can you understand the basics without knowing what platforms there are? Surprisingly, the social media platform you're on can have a strong impact on what socializing there is like. If you're delving into the world of social media for the first time, we're here to help. Here are some of the most prominent platforms for social media. We'll also look at what types of social media content each platform uses.
Reddit is an immensely popular category-based social media. The platform is pseudo-anonymous, as you'll operate with an avatar and a username. That sets Reddit apart from sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, where it's assumed you're posting as yourself. Reddit is split into "subreddits," different forums that focus on specific categories. These can be as broad as pictures, or as narrow as a single sports team or television show.
Twitter (X)
Recently rebranded to "X" after Elon Musk's acquisition, most people still refer to this platform as Twitter. The platform has undergone immense changes over the last decade. Mostly, Twitter content is short-form and text-based. Posts can also be videos or pictures. Text is limited to a small number of characters, making posts succinct.
LinkedIn is the social media of choice for the professional and business world. The platform functions as a hybrid between social media and jobsite. LinkedIn has a more formal appearance and professional etiquette is expected of posters. It's also assumed that your profile is you and that you're presenting yourself to the working world. Most people fill out a resume-like section to show their experience and desires. You can also mark yourself as looking for employment.
Instagram is the social media platform most focused on visual content. Most posts here are picture-based, making it popular among influencers, models, and travel posters. Instagram also makes use of "reels," which are short-form videos that loop. Meta, the company that owns Facebook, also owns Instagram. Most businesses make use of Instagram for advertisement.
YouTube
YouTube is mostly seen as an entertainment site. Many people also use it as social media. Posters can create channels where they can post original content, vlogs, and text posts of their lives. Content of all sorts can be found on YouTube, from tutorials to full-length movies.
Facebook has been a titan in social media for years but has begun to fade in popularity. Facebook is now mostly popular among older generations. Businesses still utilize Facebook to make pages related to their business. It's also a common place to find groups of like-minded people for fan pages, hobbies, local communities, and more.
Understanding Social Media Basics
Knowing the platforms available to you is the first step to learning your social media basics. Think of what you want out of a platform, and don't be afraid to be active on several at once! For more read-ups on social media, visit us at V, the Social Media of Hollywood. We've been bringing social media news to you since 2011 with a passion for social media content.
