Social media, a form of mass media communications on the Internet (such as on websites for social networking and microblogging) through which users share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (such as videos). Social networking and social media are overlapping concepts, but social networking is usually understood as users building communities among themselves while social media is more about using social networking sites and related platforms to build an audience.
Social media. Library Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica. (2023, September). Retrieved July 31, 2024, from
Facebook is an American online social media platform and social network service that is part of the company Meta Platforms. Access to Facebook is free of charge, and the company earns most of its money from advertisements on the website. New users can create profiles, upload photos, join a preexisting group, and start new groups. The site has many components, including Timeline, a space on each user’s profile page where users can post their content and friends can post messages; Status, which enables users to alert friends to their current location or situation; and News Feed, which informs users of changes to their friends’ profiles and status. Users can chat with each other and send each other private messages. Users can signal their approval of content on Facebook with the Like button.
Facebook. Library Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica. (2023, August). Retrieved July 31, 2024, from
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The video-sharing Web site YouTube allows users to upload their own videos and to view and comment on original videos created by millions of other users worldwide. ... Some television shows and motion pictures are also available for viewing on the site, either for free (with advertisements running alongside the programs) or for a rental fee.
YouTube. Britannica Library, Encyclopædia Britannica. (2021, November 13). Retrieved March 3, 2022, from https://library.austintexas.gov/virtual/britannica-library
X, formerly Twitter (2006–2023), is an online social media platform and microblogging service that distributes short messages of no more than 280 characters. The service was influential in shaping politics and culture in the early 21st century. Once an iconic online social media brand, Twitter has been replaced entirely by X. At issue is whether the website will viewed as an unvetted “town square” or source of reliable information. Attempts to replicate Twitter and provide the same level of service by other companies have so far proved insufficient. However, it’s unclear whether Musk’s approach will truly result in an “everything” app, whether such an app would receive regulatory approval, and whether X will remain sustainable as a social media platform.
X. Britannica Library, Encyclopædia Britannica. (2024, February). Retrieved July 31, 2024, from
Instagram is a photo and video sharing social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. The app allows users to upload media that can be edited with filters and organized by hashtags and geographical tagging. Posts can be shared publicly or with preapproved followers. Users can browse other users' content by tag and location, view trending content, like photos and follow other users to add their content to a personal feed.
Instagram. Wikipedia. (2022, October 19). Retrieved November 2, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instagram
known in China as Douyin, is a short-form video hosting service owned by Chinese company ByteDance. It hosts a variety of short-form user videos, from genres like pranks, stunts, tricks, jokes, dance and entertainment with durations from 15 seconds to ten minutes.
TikTok. Wikipedia. (2022, October 30). Retrieved November 2, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TikTok