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SOCIAL MEDIA OVERLOAD
Feeling a tad overwhelmed with all these social media platforms nowadays?
Having trouble sorting out your tweets from your statuses? Never fear fellow
social butterflies! We understand how hard it is to keep up these days in our
social media-‐filled world. So, we’ve examined the most popular and successful
channels, and then explained it in simpler terms, so you can decide what’s worth
logging on to, and what can benefit you. (And to understand what people are talking
about.)
To begin, here’s a simple way to put it:
Starting with the most obvious, Facebook.
I’m sure EVERYONE is familiar with the little blue and white icon, so we’ll go over this
one briefly. Being today’s largest social media platform, with approximately 1.4 billion
users, Facebook (FB, or Facey) is the way to go if you want to be connected with
everyone around you. Comprising of sharing photos, sending messages, checking-‐in,
scrolling through news feeds, and updating statuses, FB has everything you need for you
to network with others.
PRO: It has the largest number of users.
CON: It’s slightly addictive. #cantstopscrolling
Next we have, Twitter.
This popular form of microblogging broadcasts messages to the world. It allows
members to use 140 characters to write a post known as a ‘tweet,’ which
everyone can read. (Similar to writing a status on Facebook.) But, unlike
Facebook, it’s not really used between friends and family, but rather people you
want to communicate with from around the globe. It’s a simple way to learn
about the world through someone else’s eyes.
Don’t forget to use hashtags on trending topics so more people can see your post.
#socialmedia #tweet #news
PRO: It’s a great platform for breaking news.
CON: You have to fit your huge rant about the latest political issue in only 140
words.
Following behind, is LinkedIn. It’s the largest network for professionals and business people, as it is more
serious in nature than Facebook and Twitter. You won’t find any embarrassing
drunk photos, or silly comment wars here… just a place to build professional
networks, and business contacts.
PRO: LinkedIn Groups – a place for people with similar interests to connect. Plus
the groups can have thousands of members so you receive a signification amount
of exposure.
CON: It can be seen as a resume so you have to be mindful of what you put up.
Next is the oh-‐so popular, Instagram. Why has this grown so rapidly you ask? It’s simple. People like to be social. We
like to tell others what we are doing, what we’re eating, who we’re seeing etc.
Instagram allows you to do just that by easily sharing your favourite snaps! Plus
you can let your creative side run wild with filters, and special effects. Now who
wouldn’t love that!? Everyday objects can be turned into trendy artworks, and
then shared with the rest of the world.
PRO: You can make your life look amazing with a few Instagram filters.
CON: Deciding which filter to use…
Pinterest, is next. This platform is a great marketing tool, helping brands grow rapidly with the
sharing of photos. It’s different to what we’re used to seeing, such as texts and
status updates as it’s completely visual. It’s also a great time-‐waster if you’re like
me and like looking at pretty things.
Business wise however, it wouldn’t be for everyone. This would be more suited if
you have amazing pictures to share from your business as it’s focus is on photos.
PRO: It’s super simple and so easy to use.
CON: It has too much link spam.
Last but not least, let’s look at Youtube.
It’s a destination for videos, because let’s face it; sometimes we all get tired of
reading. It acts as a forum for people to connect, and allows anyone to upload
content, which can then be viewed by anybody. We have seen many entertainers
go viral, and gain fame from YouTube videos, from singers, to people filming
tutorials.
PRO: They have endless videos of ‘funny cats’ for your entertainment.
CON: So. Many. Ads.
Now those six platforms are the most popular used today, and the main sites you
need to know of. However, if you’re wondering about the not so common ones…
here’s a quick breakdown just so you’re in the know.
Foursquare – a forum where people ‘check in’ to locations, and often leave
reviews about the place. Your Foursquare friends can also see where you are at
that time. It’s handy for reading honest reviews about attractions, or businesses.
Lastfm – is for music enthusiasts that can record your musical habits, and then
gives you a recommendation of similar things to listen to.
Google+ -‐ is a network that builds off your Google Account, bringing together all
users. Very similar to Facebook, it allows you to create ‘circles’ or groups with
friends to chat, check-‐in, upload photos, or video chat.
____________________________________________
The socialsphere is constantly expanding, and no doubt we will be introduced to
even more ways of connecting with others. But don’t let it overwhelm you! For
now, all the things you need to know have already been covered.
Social media has been ingrained into our everyday lives so it’s best to immerse
yourself as much as you can.
Happy posting!
Sara x