Page 132 - (DK) Help Your Kids with Growing Up: A No-Nonsense Guide to Puberty and Adolescence

130 DIGITAL LIFE

Social media SEE ALSO 132–133 ›

Digital self
Cyberbullying 138–139 ›
With billions of users worldwide, social media platforms are an Staying safe online 140–141 ›
exciting way for teens to stay in touch and connect, to entertain Privacy 142–143 ›
themselves, to organize and plan events, and to learn about the
world around them.

Using social media “The Internet is becoming

Understanding how social media platforms work and knowing what the town square for the
they can do enables teens to stay safe and get the most from them. global village of tomorrow.”
The primary purpose of a social media platform is to offer its users an
easy, instant way of connecting with family and friends, and others Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft
around the world. Many sites also offer the ability to share ideas,
images, and videos, and to react to and comment on content that
everyone can see, generating further debate and interest.
▽ What can social media do?
New uses for social media are being developed all
the time. Here are some of the main ways people use
it, but there are many more.

Interact Share media
There are many ways for people Many users share content, such
to interact on social media. as images, videos, and music,
Users can talk through private through social media, whether
messages or in a way that others they made it themselves or
can see. Users can connect with someone else did. The user’s
people of similar interests, and friends can then comment on the
organize to meet up in the real content or share it. If something
world if they want to. is popular, it can quickly be
shared hundreds of thousands
of times, known as “going viral”.

Arrange events Discover and debate news
Social media allows users News organizations post snippets
to organize events, often of their stories on social media.
at short notice. These events Users can then share, comment
could be anything from a on, and debate these stories,
birthday party to a homework drawing them to the attention
club, or even a political of others and thereby spreading
demonstration. In this news and debate more widely
way, it functions like a than traditional media might.
digital message board that’s
tailored to each user’s life.

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