F.A.Qs

General social media FAQs

Let’s start our list of social media FAQs with some of the general questions that people often ask. If you’re new to the world of social media, these can help you figure out exactly what it is, how individuals and companies use it, and how you can get involved:

What is social media?

Social media is quite a broad term, covering quite a few different topics. However, a simple explanation is that social media platforms are web-based tools that allow users to connect, interact, and create, share and consume content. Through apps on smartphones, laptops, tablets, and PCs, social media enables us to build online relationships and exchange media.

How long has social media been around?

There are various theories on this. In terms of pre-internet days, there is an argument that social media has been around for around 40 years. Yet if we’re taking it purely as a medium that exists online, then this number is more like 24 years. After all, the internet itself is only just about 30 years old.

How many people use social media?

This is one of the most popular social media FAQs, and for good reason. According to figures from Statista, nearly 50% of the world’s population uses social media. Data from 2020 shows that 3.81 billion people use some form of social network. When you consider that there are just over 4.5 billion internet users, this is a staggeringly large proportion.

What is social media used for?

Social media has gone beyond just connecting with friends. It’s now an industry in itself, used for all kinds of purposes. Social platforms are a key part of digital marketing, as they can be used to communicate brand news and messaging. People also use them for business networking. Even fields like healthcare can make use of social media.

Should I join social media?

Sadly, we can’t answer this for everyone. However, there are some questions to ask yourself before you decide. What is it you’re hoping to get from social media? What information do you want to share? Which site, if any, is right for you?

Social media can help you connect with others, learn about new topics, find help on certain issues, and raise awareness for worthy causes. Yet it can take up your time, risk your privacy, and have consequences for your wellbeing. You need to find balance between all of these factors if you’re considering setting up an account.

What info do I need to join social media?

The exact requirements differ between the various platforms out there. However, for most, you can get started with a valid email address and some of your personal information. Most sites ask for your name and date of birth. Usually, you’ll also need to verify your email and create a password.

What are the positives of using social media?

So far, we’ve outlined a fairly bleak picture of social media use, but it’s far from all bad. It gives us a chance to connect and communicate with people from all over the world, allowing us to share knowledge and feel less lonely. It’s also a medium where we can learn, ask for help, and raise awareness of important causes. Using social media is also a digital skill that can help in many areas of life.

What is fake news?

One of the problems often associated with social media is that of fake news. It’s a term that’s become popular in recent years, with several high-profile scandals surrounding it. Essentially, fake news stories are those articles that are either deliberately fabricated to get people to believe something, or partially untrue to attract more views. Sensationalist headlines, clickbait titles, and false statements are all hallmarks of fake news.

Social media marketing FAQs

Businesses of all kinds are developing their online presence. One of the key ways of doing this is by expanding their reach on social media. It’s a tool with countless possibilities, and companies try many different tactics to sell their products and services. Here are some social media FAQs about marketing:

What is a social media manager?

Among those thinking about a career in digital marketing, this is often among the most popular social media FAQs. Social media managers work to represent their companies across social media channels. They control the official accounts for the businesses they work for, run social media marketing campaigns, and interact with customers online.

How do companies use social media?

There are all kinds of ways that companies can take advantage of their social presence. It’s a platform where they can promote themselves and their products and services. Similarly, they can engage with customers and provide customer service, answer questions, and build relationships. As such, digital marketing is becoming essential to all kinds of businesses.

What are social media analytics?

One of the main areas that companies can use social media is by looking at analytics to understand how their customers behave online. They then use this data to inform decisions and marketing activities, analysing how effective their efforts are.

How do you run a successful social media campaign?

If you’re wondering exactly how businesses use these platforms, our course on social media marketing campaigns gives you an insight on how to run one. It covers everything you need to know, from the planning stages, to the launch, and finally how to analyse its effectiveness.

Why do brands use social media?

Given how many people around the world use social media, it’s little surprise that companies are jumping on the bandwagon. What’s more, organisations such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn provide specific tools to help businesses market towards their customers. They’re the ideal platforms for expanding brand recognition and reaching new customers.

How can I get a job working in social media?

Many digital marketing roles require some knowledge of social media. As such, you’ll want to start exploring how the various platforms are used, both in a practical sense and for marketing purposes. Hands-on experience is always desirable, as is knowledge of current digital workplace trends.

Which platforms are best for social media marketing?

The answer to this really depends on the brand and purpose. Obviously, the more users a platform has, the more potential there is to connect with new people. That’s why platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger are useful. For B2B companies, LinkedIn is the ideal place to be, while lifestyle brands can use Instagram to great effect.

Can I avoid social media marketing?

Given that a significant amount of social media companies’ revenue comes from advertising, it can be hard to avoid it. They collect data on you and then use it to try and sell you things. However, it’s possible to minimise these targeted ads you see from all companies. There are no quick fixes sadly, but you can read more about how to minimise targeted ads on Privacy International.

How can I tell if something on social media is an ad?

Companies usually have to pay to advertise on social media channels, and they’re pretty good at making their ads look like regular posts. However, there are guidelines in place meaning that such ads have to be clearly labelled as such. So, you see things like ‘sponsored content’ on a post in your timeline. Similarly, ‘influencers’ will often post videos/posts about products they’re paid to advertise, and they have to declare if this is the case.

Online privacy FAQs

So much of our lives are now internet-based. Whether it’s our education, shopping, entertainment, communication or socialisation, all can feature some kind of online element. As such, concerns have been raised about our privacy, data, and security. Here are some relevant social media FAQs on the subject:

Are social media platforms safe to use?

This is another essential topic on our list of social media FAQs. The simple answer is, social media sites are safe to use if you use them safely. Most sites have security and privacy settings that allow you to control what others see about you. However, remember that most of your activity online leaves a digital footprint. You can learn some of the basics of cyber security to help keep you safe online.

How do social media companies use my data?

Most online businesses collect some data about you. Identifiable information such as your name, date of birth, location, and device ID is used with things like how you respond to content and what you purchase. This information is collected, bought, sold and traded across the internet and between companies. It’s then used to target you with adverts, segment you into user groups, send you offers, and alter their own practices. Data analytics is big business, and we’re all creating vast amounts of information each day.

What are the laws about social media privacy?

There are several laws in the UK that relate to privacy, data, and social media. In the UK, the right to privacy is protected under article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as article 7 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. There are also laws meaning your privacy is protected from the state and other individuals. However, there are exceptions to this rule when it comes to certain policing operations.

How can I be safer online?

This is an important question that goes beyond just social media FAQs. There are many steps you can take to stay safe when using social media and the internet. You should learn about privacy settings on your social accounts, as well as limit the personal information you share online. Additionally, you can make sure your internet connection is secure, and that your PC has the necessary anti-virus software.

What happens if my data is compromised?

Social media sites are prime targets for hacks and data breaches. If your account is compromised, you’ll need to take action, including assessing what information they may have accessed and what other accounts use the same email and password. You should ramp up your account security, including using multifactor authentication. Additionally, you might want to learn more about the cyber security landscape.

Can I hide my personal data online?

In the UK, you have the ‘right to be forgotten’ when it comes to your online data. This means that you can ask Google to delist specific search results related to your name if they’re potentially harmful. You can also delete your online social accounts. One other place to take action to hide your data is to check data collection sites and old websites you used to use to request that they remove your info and old posts.

Which social media platform is the safest?

It’s a little difficult to determine what ‘safe’ looks like when it comes to social media. However, you want to look like options of peer-to-peer encryption for messages, multifactor authentication for logins, and the amount of data they require. Services such as Telegram are considered fairly safe based on these factors. Check out our courses on network security if you want to learn how your data is kept safe online.

Where can I learn more about cyber security?

You can find our range of online cyber security courses to learn more about this interesting and essential topic. We have courses that cover a wide range of topics, such as ethical hacking, encryption, and ethics in computing.

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