Twitter

The number of characters may have changed, but Twitter remains

all about instant connections and sharing your ideas.
Twitter, with its 328 million users, has recently changed its most
famous and infamous feature, the 140-character limit. By doubling
the limit to 280 characters, it offers more room to express your
thoughts and ideas. But keep in mind that brevity, along with strategic
use of photos and videos, will continue to help you stand out; there's
no need to use all 280 characters in every post.  

Twitter can be more conversational than other platforms, but be sure

to understand the difference between your retweets, replies and your
DMs (direct messages). Retweets (RTs) are ways for you to share,
and optionally comment on, others’ posts. Choosing “quote
tweet” means you add a comment above someone’s post; just hitting
“retweet” means it gets sent to your followers without any
commentary from you. You should quote tweet whenever you can, so
people understand why you are sharing something. 

Replies are a public way to respond to posts by others and carry on a

conversation that others see, while direct messages are a way for
you to connect privately with someone. In order to be able to DM
someone, they have to follow you; or they have opted for the setting
that allows anyone to DM them. Group DMs are an effective way to
have more focused conversations among a larger group. Twitter
allows you to have a private account (“protected” in their parlance) —
but if you are using Twitter for business, having an open account
makes more sense.  
Facebook
With the largest number of users, Facebook is a worldwide
phenomenon beloved by both companies and your cousins.
Facebook, with more than two billion users worldwide, is the most
powerful and influential of the social networks. It is a great way to
connect with family, friends and friends of friends. It remains mainly a
personal network for most people, but it is useful for business and
professional outreach as well. As we have seen from recent stories
about the 2016 election, the platform played a critical role in
spreading information and disinformation. 

Facebook Live, which allows you to broadcast instantly around the

world, can be a useful tool. In addition to journalists, businesses have
been using Live to share behind-the-scenes content, do employee
Q&As and other events. 

Like most platforms, Facebook offers privacy settings for your

content so you can decide who gets to see what. Settings include
content that can be seen by everyone online or by just your friends,
or by customized groups you create (coworkers, for instance, family
or your high school teammates). Most people don’t pay attention to
these settings and are sometimes surprised by, say, who saw photos
that weren't meant for their eyes.
Instagram
More than just pretty pictures, Instagram is increasingly a place
for business.

Instagram, built around photos, videos and captions, has grown to

800 million users and is increasingly part of the business world. If you
and your work are visually driven, Instagram should be part of your
business toolkit. Any company aimed at consumers, including travel,
beauty and more, can do well on Instagram, but we are also seeing
older, B2B companies like General Electric and IBM using
Instagram. 
Expanding Your Network and Influence
Snapchat
This hot social network is undergoing major changes.

 Snapchat has cooled off lately as Instagram has emulated some of

its biggest ideas and a major redesign was announced. 

Depending on your industry and who you’re trying to reach

(especially millennials and younger), Snapchat may make sense for
you. Otherwise, you may want to wait and see how the “Insta vs
Snap” war shakes out.

Snapchat offers a variety of tools and tips for businesses, mostly built
around paid ads. Snapchat promotes how a range of companies
have used the platform and also has an official business guide.

Social Media Can Strengthen Friendships

There is no doubt that friendships are a key component of teen life. When
kids have healthy friendships, they not only feel accepted for who they
are, but they also feel more empowered and connected to the world
around them. Friends also can speak truth into their lives and encourage
them to explore their dreams.
What's more, research has shown that having at least one solid friendship
can go a long way in preventing bullying. In fact, bullies often target teens
that are alone or isolated. But teens that have a core group of friends
often have a built-in layer of protection from bullying

Social Media Is a Vehicle for Doing Good 

Whether teens are developing fundraisers or supporting an important
cause, social media can help them make an impact in their communities.
Some social movements have started when teens leveraged social media
to build awareness for an issue.

Whether they make YouTube videos or develop Twitter campaigns, teens

have more impact on the world around them because of social media.
Moreover, their voices are being heard more frequently. 

Social media also exposes kids to important issues all over the world, not
just those in their communities. As a result, they realize that social media
is a way for them to help and support people even from far away. They
can instantaneously make an impact on things like hunger in Africa,
preserving the rain forest, or providing educational tools for kids without
resources.

Social Media Reduces Feelings of

Isolation
While social media can make adults feel lonelier, researchers are finding
the opposite may be true for teens. A study published in 2015 found that
even though teens have fewer friends than teens did a decade ago, they
still report feeling less lonely than their counterparts. They also report
feeling less isolated. Researchers suggest that the difference is social
media and technology.5
As teens find their niche, they are becoming more individualistic and more
extroverted and have higher self-esteem.5 This increased individuality
makes teens more secure in existing friendships and reduces feelings of
loneliness overall. This is especially true if those friendships are healthy.
This research also suggests that teens are developing stronger social skills
due to social media use.5 As technology becomes a bigger part of
everyday life, solid online communication skills are important. Through
social media, teens learn how to navigate social networking sites and
other methods of online communication. This makes them better
communicators in an increasingly digital world.

Social Media Is a Source of Authentic

Support 
Years ago, if teens were interested in a quirky subject or were grappling
with who they were as a person, they often felt marginalized and alone.
Today, teens can connect with others that share similar interests, desires,
and concerns. This connection helps them feel validated and secure in who
they are.
Another way teens are finding support is through online communities. For
instance, kids struggling with issues like drug addiction and eating
disorders now can find help and support online without ever having to
leave their homes. This is especially helpful for teens in small communities
or rural areas where resources may be limited.

Suicidal teens can even get immediate access to quality online support.
One example of online support occurred when a
Reddit Minecraft community talked a teen out of suicide. Aside from
posting positive comments and messages, more than 50 of the users used
voice conferencing to persuade the teen not to go through with it. This is a
perfect example of how social media and technology can benefit teens
today.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a
trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

Social Media Can Build a Platform

Your teen can use social media to begin developing an online presence
that can attract the attention of colleges and future employers. For
instance, some teens make YouTube videos or write blog posts on topics
they are passionate about.

A young teen who has a passion for reading and writing might publish
book reviews or film videos with their thoughts, ideas, and comments. As
their work gains traction online, they may even develop a following which
could include authors, literary agents, and publishers.

Then, when this teen applies for college, they can reference their social
media accounts on college applications. This work demonstrates their
creativity and maturity, but also shows that she is a self-starter.

Building a platform on social media can open a lot of doors for teens and
help them build a positive online reputation. It also can expose them to
college scholarships, college networks, and even a future career. And it
can change their perspective on social media. It's no longer just a place to
post silly pictures or observe digital drama. It becomes a tool they can use
to share their passions and eventually find a career path.

Social Media Allows for Personal

Expression
Digital technology is the perfect tool for channeling creativity and personal
expression. Whether kids enjoy singing, writing, or acting, they can share
these talents with the world around them. Kids who enjoy fashion, make-
up trends, or craft projects can express themselves online. Providing this
avenue of self-expression is important for teens.

Research published in 2019 shows that there is a direct connection

between self-expression and self-confidence. When kids are given avenues
for being authentic and true to themselves, they become content with who
they are and happier overall.6

By contrast, when they do not have many opportunities to express

themselves or they do not know people with the same passions or
interests, they begin to wonder if there is something wrong with them.
They also question why they are not like everyone else.

Social Media Is a Tool for Gathering

Information
Social media has become a source of information and news for many
teens. Once they begin social networking, they can follow just about
anyone with a social media account. From authors and athletes to
celebrities, chefs, nonprofit organizations, and magazines, they are
connected to all sorts of information.

Teens also can gather information about issues that impact them or their
friends. For instance, if they are concerned a friend might have an eating
disorder or a drug addiction, they can gather information about it. Or, if
they want to learn more about a presidential election, climate change or
even find new ways to eat healthily, they can do so on their social media
accounts.

A Word From Verywell

Overall, social media does not have to be scary. Even though it can be
exploited by bullies, instilling good digital etiquette and maintaining an
open dialogue about online safety can go a long way in keeping kids safe
online. As a parent, make sure you are nurturing the positive aspects of
social media as well as discussing the dangers. By doing so, you will help
your kids develop social media savvy, a skill that will ultimately help them
in the years to come.
Encourage kids to use social media for more than just selfies. Show them
how to use it as a tool to affect the world. Doing so also helps your teen develop
kindness and gratitude.