Social media are websites and applications that allow you to connect with other people. This includes sharing ideas, pictures, and videos. It can also include messaging. Social media is great for keeping in touch with friends and family, making friends with people who have similar interests, staying up to date on news, and following celebrities.

The most popular social media sites are Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp (all owned by Facebook, Inc.), as well as Twitter. Each is explained further, later in this guide.

Social media services usually include profiles, a place to share a short biography and picture of yourself. The social media service will recommend types of information to include. For example, they might suggest you put your name, favorite hobbies, and birthday. How much you share on a social media profile is up to you, though. We recommend that you do not share too much of your personal information.

Keep in mind that when you share pictures, videos, messages, or other media through social media, they may be shared with people other than those you intended. A friend might take a picture you send them, and send it to someone else. A coworker might see something you wrote about your job and share it with your boss.