A Beginner's Guide to Social Networking Sites

Facebook is a social media platform that allows people to connect with friends and family, share photos and videos, and communicate through text messaging, voice and video calls. It was founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and has since grown to become one of the largest social networking sites in the world, with over 2 billion active users. Users can create a profile, add friends and join groups based on shared interests. Facebook also offers a range of features such as news feeds, events and Marketplace where users can buy and sell items.

Facebook Messenger is a messaging platform owned by Facebook that allows users to send text messages, voice messages, photos, and videos and make voice and video calls to other users on the platform. It is available as a standalone app on mobile devices and can also be accessed through the Facebook website on desktop computers. In addition to its basic messaging features, Messenger also offers a range of features such as group chats, games and the ability to send money to friends.

Instagram is a popular social media platform that allows users to share photos and videos with their followers. Users can also add captions, comments and hashtags to their posts to make them more discoverable.

Instagram is available as a mobile app and can be downloaded on smartphones and tablets. It's free to use, but users can purchase ads or promoted posts to reach a larger audience.

In the UK, there are age restrictions for using Instagram. According to Instagram's terms of service, users must be at least 13 years old to create an account. Additionally, users between the ages of 13 and 18 must have parental permission to use the platform.

It's important to note that these age restrictions are in place to protect younger users from potential risks associated with social media use, such as online bullying, harassment and exposure to inappropriate content.

Microsoft Teams is a communication and collaboration platform designed for businesses and teams to work together seamlessly. It provides a centralised hub for chats, video and audio conferencing, file sharing and other team collaboration features. You can use Microsoft Teams to communicate with your colleagues in real-time, host online meetings, share documents and work collaboratively on projects.

Pinterest is a social media platform that allows users to discover, save and share ideas and inspiration in the form of images, videos, and GIFs. Users can create their own boards and pin content to them, as well as browse and follow boards created by other users.

Like other social media platforms, Pinterest does not have specific features designed for children, and some content may not be suitable for children. However, unlike some other platforms, Pinterest does not allow explicit content, and users can report inappropriate content.

Pinterest requires users to be at least 13 years old to sign up for an account. It is advisable for Parents to monitor their child's activity on the platform and restrict access to content that is not suitable for their age group. Pinterest also offers a feature called 'SafeSearch,' which can filter out explicit content from search results.

Visit (common sense media) for parental user experience on Pinterest.

Quora is a question-and-answer website where users can ask and answer questions on a wide range of topics. Users can sign up for a free account and contribute to the platform by asking or answering questions, upvoting or downvoting answers and commenting on existing answers. Quora requires users to be at least 13 years old to create an account. However, Quora does not actively verify the age of its users, so it's possible that some younger users may be able to access the site.

Reddit is a social news and discussion website where users can submit content, upvote or downvote other users' content, and engage in discussions with other users. Reddit is organized into 'subreddits,' which are themed forums focused on specific topics, such as news, science, music, gaming and more.

Reddit is not specifically designed for children and requires users to be at least 13 years old to create an account. Some subreddits may contain adult language, images, and topics that are not appropriate for minors.

Reddit's content is largely user-generated and moderated, and while there are rules against posting explicit or harmful content, it is still possible for inappropriate content to slip through. Parents should monitor their child's activity on the site and restrict access to subreddits that are not suitable for their age or maturity level.

Signal is a messaging app that focuses on privacy and security. It was developed by the Signal Foundation, a non-profit organisation and is available for download on both iOS and Android devices.

Signal uses end-to-end encryption, which means that messages are secured and only accessible to the sender and recipient. This makes it a popular choice for people who are concerned about their privacy and want to ensure that their conversations are secure. In addition to text messaging, Signal also supports voice and video calls as well as group messaging.

Signal has been recommended by privacy advocates and security experts and has been used by activists, journalists, and others who require secure communication. It has also gained popularity among a wider audience due to concerns over privacy and data security on other messaging apps.

Skype is a popular communication platform that allows users to make voice and video calls, send instant messages and share files with other Skype users over the internet. It also offers features like screen sharing and group video calls, making it a great tool for remote meetings or online tutoring sessions. Additionally, Skype offers a low-cost way to make international calls to landlines or mobile phones.

Snapchat is a social media app that allows users to share photos and short videos, known as snaps, with their friends or followers. It was launched in 2011 and has gained popularity for its unique features and user experience.

One of the key features of Snapchat is that the snaps are temporary and disappear after they have been viewed, adding a sense of privacy and spontaneity to the app. Users can also add filters, captions, and other creative elements to their snaps before sending them.

In addition to sending snaps to individual friends or followers, Snapchat also has a feature called 'Stories,' which allows users to share a collection of snaps that can be viewed by all of their followers for 24 hours.

Snapchat has also added additional features over the years, including messaging, group chats and augmented reality lenses that allow users to add animated effects to their snaps.

Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app that allows users to send text, voice, and video messages, as well as make voice and video calls. It was developed by Telegram Messenger LLP, a privately held company based in Dubai. Telegram competes with messaging apps like Facebook's WhatsApp.

Telegram focuses on speed and security and uses end-to-end encryption for messages, which means that messages are secured and only accessible to the sender and recipient. It also has a secret chat feature, which allows users to have encrypted conversations that cannot be forwarded, saved, or screenshot.

In addition to messaging and calling, Telegram also has features such as channels, which are public or private broadcasting spaces where users can share information and updates with their followers and bots, which are automated programs that can perform a variety of tasks, such as providing weather updates, news, or reminders.

TikTok is a social media platform that allows users to create and share short-form videos with their followers. The videos can be up to 60 seconds long and can feature a wide range of content, such as dance videos, comedy skits, lip-syncs, recipes and educational content.

TikTok has become especially popular with younger audiences, as it offers a fun and creative way to express themselves and connect with others around the world.

In the UK, there are age restrictions for using TikTok. According to TikTok's terms of service, users must be at least 13 years old to create an account. However, for users between the ages of 13 and 18, there are additional protections in place to ensure their safety and privacy. For example, younger users' accounts are set to private by default, which means that their videos can only be seen by approved followers. Additionally, TikTok offers a range of safety features, such as parental controls, filters and reporting tools, to help users stay safe and prevent harmful content from being shared on the platform.

Tumblr is a social media platform that allows users to create and share various forms of content, including blog posts, photos, videos and more. It was launched in 2007 and quickly gained popularity as a hub for creative self-expression, particularly among young people.

Tumblr has been known for its creative and diverse user base, with a wide range of interests and topics represented on the platform. Some popular topics on Tumblr include photography, social justice and humour.

In addition to its social features, Tumblr has also been known for its flexible and customisable layout options, allowing users to design their own unique look and feel for their blogs.

Twitter is a social media platform that allows users to post short messages, known as tweets, of up to 280 characters in length. It was launched in 2006 and has since become one of the most popular social media platforms worldwide.

Twitter is known for its real-time, fast-paced nature and has been used for a variety of purposes, including news and media dissemination, social activism, marketing and advertising, and personal expression. It has also been used by public figures, celebrities, and politicians to connect with their followers and communicate directly with their audience. Users can follow other users to see their tweets in their timeline and can also search for specific topics or hashtags to find relevant tweets.

WhatsApp is a messaging app that allows users to send text, voice, and video messages, as well as make voice and video calls. It was launched in 2009 and has since become one of the most popular messaging apps worldwide.

WhatsApp allows users to create individual or group chats with their contacts and messages are sent and received in real-time. It also has end-to-end encryption, which means that messages are secured and only accessible to the sender and recipient.

YouTube is a website that allows people to share videos online. It was created in 2005 and is now one of the most popular websites in the world. Users can upload videos to their own channels or watch videos uploaded by others. YouTube has a wide variety of videos on almost every topic imaginable, including music, comedy, education and more. Users can also like, comment and share videos with others. Some popular YouTube channels have millions of subscribers and have become a way for people to earn a living.