Mainstream Social Media
- Facebook: Launched in 2004, Facebook is one of the largest and most influential social media platforms globally. It allows users to create profiles, add friends, share updates, photos, videos, and links, join groups, and like or comment on posts. Facebook's features also include pages for businesses, events, and a messaging service called Messenger.
- Instagram: Acquired by Facebook in 2012, Instagram is a visually-oriented platform focused on sharing photos and videos. Users can create profiles, follow other users, and engage with content through likes, comments, and direct messages. Instagram features include Stories (temporary posts), IGTV (long-form videos), and Explore (discovery of new content).
- Twitter: Twitter is a microblogging platform where users can share short messages called "tweets" of up to 280 characters. It allows individuals and organizations to post text, photos, videos, and links. Twitter emphasizes real-time updates, trending topics, and following other users to receive their tweets on a timeline.
- LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a professional networking platform designed for career-oriented individuals and businesses. Users can create professional profiles, connect with colleagues and industry professionals, share work-related updates, and join industry-specific groups. It also serves as a job search platform and hosts educational content.
- Snapchat: Snapchat is a multimedia messaging app known for its disappearing content. Users can send photos and videos, called "snaps," to friends or post them on their story for a limited time. Snapchat features filters, augmented reality lenses, and various interactive features like Snap Map and Discover for content from publishers.
- TikTok: TikTok is a video-sharing app that allows users to create and share short videos, typically set to music. It gained popularity for its user-friendly editing tools, creative effects, and the ability to go viral quickly. TikTok showcases a curated "For You" page with personalized content recommendations based on user preferences.
- YouTube: While originally a video-sharing website, YouTube has evolved into a major social media platform. It hosts a vast collection of user-generated videos on various topics and enables creators to build channels, gain subscribers, and engage with their audience through comments, likes, and shares.
Facebook: A widely used platform for creating profiles, connecting with friends, sharing updates, and joining groups. Instagram: Focused on visual content, users can share photos and videos, follow others, and engage with content through likes and comments. Twitter: Known for its short messages called tweets, users can post text, photos, videos, and follow others to receive updates on a timeline. LinkedIn: Geared towards professionals, users can create professional profiles, connect with colleagues, and join industry-specific groups. Snapchat: Allows users to send disappearing photos and videos, share them on their story, and offers interactive features like filters and augmented reality lenses. TikTok: A video-sharing app for creating and sharing short videos, often set to music, with a focus on creative effects and viral content. YouTube: Initially a video-sharing website, it has become a major social media platform hosting a wide range of user-generated videos, channels, and interactions.