This document provides an overview of various social media platforms and how to use them. It discusses Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, blogging, and concludes with an invitation for discussion. Key details include statistics on user demographics and engagement for each platform, as well as how to create accounts and share content. The goal is to introduce these major social media channels and apps to help people engage online through competitions, conversations, professional networking, and sharing photos/stories.

1. Social Media @ U3AC
Session 1: Introduction & discussion
Session 2: Facebook
Session 3: Twitter and LinkedIn
Session 4: Instagram & Pinterest
Session 5: Blogging

2. Facebook
Originated in 2004 as a social network for
recreational use. It has now been embraced
by B2C businesses trying to boost
engagement through competitions and
interactive discussions. Some stats (2021,
from sprout social):
• Users: 2.8 billion monthly active users
• 25-34 years are the largest demographic
• India has the most amount of FB users
(340m), after the US (200m); UK has 38m
•86% of internet users with $100K+ income
use Facebook
•98% access FB via a mobile phone
•Highest engagement days are Tuesday,
Wednesday and Friday
•2/3 of FB users visit a local business page
weekly
•More than 1.4 billion people use FB groups
every month
How to use it
• Create a Page and promote
events
• Find events
• Sell things on marketplace
• Join groups
• Keep in touch with friends
and family
• Use messenger for free calls
• How to open an account:
https://www.facebook.com/help/18815
7731232424

3. Has been around since 2006 and is available in 34
languages. It’s defined as a micro-blogging platform
because of its text restriction to up to 280 characters
(was 140). Some stats (2021, hootsuite blog):
• 187m daily active users
• 70% male users, 30% female users
• 25-34 years old is the largest demographic
• Ranked as the 6th mobile app
• 68.7m are based in the US
• Over 17m users are in the UK (statista.com figure)
How to use it
•Create a Twitter profile
•Follow influencers, celebrities and media personalities
•Build up your following by offering good content or retweeting
• See what is happening in the world (be wary of fake news)
• How to open an account: https://help.twitter.com/en/using-twitter/create-twitter-
account#:~:text=Go%20to%20twitter.com%2Fsignup.&text=Click%20the%20sign%20up%20button.&text=A%20Cr
eate%20your%20account%20pop,phone%20number%20or%20email%20address.
Twitter

4. Launched in 2003, LinkedIn is the world’s largest
professional network online. You can find people, recruit
staff and have conversations. Some stats (2021,
hootsuite blog):
• 722 million members
• 57% male and 43% female
• 76% of users are outside the US – 29m in UK
• Available in 24 languages
• 59.9% users are 25-34 years old
• 40m people use it to search jobs every week
How to use it:
•Create a personal and/or company profile
• Publish updates
• Connect with employers and/or industry professionals
• Find professional groups
• Write articles
• How to open account: https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/2964/signing-up-to-
join-linkedin?lang=en
LinkedIn

5. Fast-growing photo-sharing platforms launched in 2010 – one
desktop/mobile (Pinterest), one mobile (Instagram).
Pinterest stats (2021, sprout social):
• Over 450m+ monthly active users worldwide
• 85% use the mobile app
• 50% are outside the US
• 240bn pins saved by users
• 60% of users are female
• Median age: 40, but younger generations
are joining in.
Instagram stats (2021, hootsuite blog):
•1bn+ active users each month
• 88% are out of the US
• 51% females; 49% male
• 81% use it to research products and services
• 500m use stories every day – 4m businesses use
Instagram stories ads monthly
• Fourth most used app.
How to use Pinterest
• Collect your and other users’
photos, grouped in theme
boards.
• Find inspiration
• How to open an account:
https://help.pinterest.com/en-
gb/article/get-a-pinterest-account
Pinterest vs Instagram
How to use Instagram
• Share photos
• Follow other users
• Create/see stories
• How to open a business
account:
https://business.instagram.com/getting-
started?locale=en_GB

6. Blogging
Twitter is known as a microblogging platform, but what if you want to share
long-form content? An introduction to free platform Blogger. Blog example:
https://emptycommongarden.blogspot.com/
How to open an account in Blogger
and design your blog;
https://support.google.com/blogger/a
nswer/1623800?hl=en

7. Discussion
Introduction over, let’s talk
about:
• Which social media channels or apps you’d
like to learn…
• Do you need help with setting up
accounts?
• Do you have privacy concerns?
• Any other question or burning issue….
Simone Secci, unsplash