Popular social media networks include TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, among others. It is important for businesses and content creators to understand which platforms are best suited for their needs and target audience. One of social media’s most effective marketing uses is targeted advertising. Platforms provide advanced tools for businesses to reach specific demographics based on factors like age, location, interests, and behaviors.

• While social media itself has only been around at scale since 2003, there were some initial platforms that paved the way for this kind of digital community.
• It can be hard for families to ban social media, even for younger children.
• When you use a social media platform via a web browser or some official apps, that platform may be able to track what you do when you use your web browser to surf the web or shop online.
• A hashtag is a word or keyword that precedes the hash symbol and is used within social media posts to help users find topics that interest them.
• If you want a very easy way to build a site quickly and affordably, consider using one of the best website builders.
• Add cyber-bullying and other offensive online behaviours to the mix, and it’s easy to see why social media causes a great deal of anxiety for teens.

Access to information and support

Another study talks about how children who use TikTok are developing tics and having tic-like attacks. They’re experiencing a movement disorder brought on by stress and anxiety — presumably made worse by the pandemic and teens’ increased social media consumption. Harmful language, images and videos are prevalent, with 64% of teens reporting they’re often or sometimes exposed to hate-based content. Over half of students today say that they have encountered cyberbullying online directed at them at least once in the past year. What makes this disadvantage such a devastating experience is the fact that the information is available all day, every day on a public forum.

Support

Internet censorship in the United States of America is the suppression of information published or viewed on the Internet in the United States. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects freedom of speech and expression against federal, state, and local government censorship. Definitions are not standardized or agreed upon, complicating the development of evidence-based recommendations. A precursor of the electronic bulletin board system (BBS), known as Community Memory, appeared by 1973. Mainstream BBSs arrived with the Computer Bulletin Board System in Chicago, which launched on February 16, 1978. Before long, most major US cities had more than one BBS, running on TRS-80, Apple II, Atari 8-bit computers, IBM PC, Commodore 64, Sinclair, and others.

If you enjoy exploring captivating images and short, snappy video clips, then Instagram is undoubtedly the ideal social network for you. Surprisingly, a whopping 57% of Americans between the ages of 25 and 30 have an account on Instagram. If your complaint relates to how another organisation has misused information they collected from your social media pages, you should complain to that organisation. It can be overwhelming to think about all the negative ways your child may be affected by using social media. Former MLB pitcher Curt Schilling was terminated from ESPN because of comments he left on Facebook about transgender individuals. This action followed a suspension he’d received earlier for comparing radical Muslims to the Nazis.

Nearly 6 out of 10 teen girls say they’ve been contacted through social media platforms by a stranger in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable. Unfortunately, there are people on social media who target children and teens whether to sexually exploit them, financially extort them or sell them illicitly manufactured drugs. It can be challenging for children and teens to know what to share and what not to share online. And it’s not so easy to give up or limit your child’s time on social media.

It seems as if everyone has their own personal opinion of what social media is and isn’t. But let’s dive deeper into the general concept to gain a clearer and more precise understanding. Social media meets young people’s needs to socially connect with others, develop their identity, and belong to a community. By planning this approach together, your child can understand and accept it, making the removal of social media smoother and less stressful for the whole family. You could try reducing time spent on social media by a quarter each week and completely stop after one month. Talk to kids and teens about why the ban is being implemented and how it will affect both their friendships and their daily routines.

Platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram allow targeted advertising and real-time customer interaction. Businesses that leverage influencer marketing, content creation, and paid ads see significant growth. One of https://www.facebook.com/jackpotjillonlinecasino/ the cons of social media is that it brings many privacy and security concerns. Personal information that users share on social media platforms is frequently vulnerable to exploitation if inadequate security measures are in place. Significant hazards include unauthorized access to personal information and data breaches. While social media itself has only been around at scale since 2003, there were some initial platforms that paved the way for this kind of digital community.

The positive aspects of social media can often outweigh the negative. Social media is also used for political activism, with people using it to raise awareness about social and political issues and organize political movements. LinkedIn has been owned by Microsoft since 2015 and has become a popular place for people to showcase their work histories and publicize their achievements. Music played a key role in the platform’s success thanks to the MySpace Music feature, where artists could upload their music for greater discovery. Although popular for years, MySpace was ultimately just not able to keep up with its closest rival, Facebook, which finally outpaced Myspace in terms of unique monthly visitors in April 2008. This activity will introduce you to social media, how it works and why it’s so popular.

While X saw a decline in its ad reach (-13.9%), it remains popular among Millennials (27–42 years), who are more likely to engage with real-time content, industry news and trending topics (DataReportal, 2025). The platform is more male-dominated, with 67.3% of its audience identifying as male. Businesses targeting tech-savvy audiences or looking to engage in live events or discussions can still leverage X for these purposes. Facebook continues to be a dominant platform, with 17.2 million users in Australia as of January 2025, reflecting a 3.3% increase from the previous year (DataReportal, 2025). While Facebook usage is stabilising among younger users, it remains crucial for engaging Gen X (43–58 years) and Baby Boomers (59–77+ years). Content strategies for these groups should focus on video, community-driven posts and content that builds trust.