What Is Social Media 4 What Can I Do on Social Media 6 Is Social Media Free 8 Is Social Media Safe 10 Should I Share My Accounts with My Parents 12 What Shouldn’t I Post on Social Media 14 What Should I Post on Social Media 16 What if Someone Bothers Me on Social Media 18 Can Social Media Help Me Learn 20 How Can I Use Social Media to Connect 22 Do Social Networks Benefit from Having Me as a User 24 Do I Need to Be on Social Media 26 Fact Sheet 28 Glossary 30 For More Information 31 Index 32 About the Author 32 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Before the Internet most communication was a one-way street Newspapers magazines radio and TV presented the news and other information But readers listeners and viewers could not participate in the conversation Today the Internet has made that possible It gives the audience a chance to talk back Social media is one way people communicate online Social media websites and apps allow users to post and share information Social media users can access social media on computers cell phones and tablets They share favorite videos or comment on news articles This information unlike an e-mail message is public It can be seen by many others including family friends and sometimes strangers You may never know who has seen your social media posts You may see posts on social media without others knowing you have too WHAT IS SOCIAL MEDIA Many people may read your social media posts 1 4
2,500 YEARS OF SOCIAL MEDIA Social media did not start on the Internet It was invented in 550 BCE That is when the first postal system was formed Handwritten letters were delivered from one person to another Today’s social media is a lot faster But the concept is still the same people exchanging information and ideas across great distances Social networks are a form of social media Facebook Twitter and Instagram are social networks These sites are like giant cities Your family and friends are your neighborhood You can connect with them to communicate and share photos and interesting links Social networking helps you keep in touch with your digital neighbors 67 Percent of Americans ages 12 and up who used social media in 2014 Social media is a participatory form of online communication that is public Most social media use occurs on the Internet Examples of social media include chatting with friends online and commenting on a news article Instagram Twitter and Facebook are just a few popular social media websites 5
