What are they? Online platforms that facilitate the sharing of user-created content, collaboration, and social interaction.

What are the categories?

• Social networks (Facebook, Snapchat, X, Whatsapp, etc.)

• Photo- and video-sharing platforms (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest)

• Forums and discussion platforms (Quora, Reddit)

• Gaming and streaming networks (Twitch, Kick, Discord, Roblox, Fortnite)

Someone might choose to use social media for…

Accessibility: instant access to information and social interaction.

Entertainment: an infinite amount of stimulating content and an easy distraction.

Learning and resources: support communities, science communicators, and tutorials that can help us learn things.

Freedom of expression: a space to express oneself, create and interact.

However, social networks could…

• Create social isolation. “Isolated, but connected”. If we neglect our offline relationships or other activities to spend more time on social media, it can lead to social isolation.

• Spread misinformation. Fake news, manipulation, biased algorithms… It’s often difficult to decipher true from false. Algorithms sometimes favour sensationalised content at the expense of verified information.

• Desensitize you. By being repeatedly exposed to shocking, violent or risk-taking content, you may become less emotionally affected by it and start to perceive certain activities or realities as more trivial or normal than they really are.

• Radicalize you. Algorithms tend to show content that confirms our beliefs, which can enclose us within  circles with increasingly extreme views and cut us off from exposure to other viewpoints.

• Expose you to bullying. Cyberbullying or cyber-harassment can take multiple forms and can have serious impacts on your self-esteem and well-being. Cyber-harassment can follow a person everywhere, which makes it harder to avoid. Even if the harassment is virtual, the impacts are real.

• Make you feel bored. It seems paradoxal, but the infinite amount of content can make you feel empty, especially when navigating without a purpose (doomscrolling).

• Lead to excess. These platforms are designed to capture and retain our attention for as long as possible, which can lead us to use them more frequently and for longer periods of time.

• Have an impact on your self-esteem. Self-esteem is the value we attribute ourselves. Exposure to idealized lives and unattainable standards (often fabricated for the purpose of being posted) can contribute to unhealthy comparisons and negatively affect how we perceive ourselves. Social media can lead us to consider likes, views and comments as indicators of our worth, when self-esteem comes from what is important to us, not outside perspectives.

• Affect your personal life. What we post, even in private, can be shared elsewhere. These platforms collect our data and use or sell it for commercial purposes.

If you spend time on social media, know that...

Social media influences our behaviour.

Social media platforms don’t show us only what we like; they influence what we consider cool, what we want to buy, and even how we perceive ourselves. It’s like the algorithms know exactly what is most likely to capture your attention and provoke a reaction. It can be subtle, and we often don’t realize how much we are influenced.

You are responsible for what you post.

Social media offers freedom of expression, but with that freedom comes responsibility.

Each post, comment, or message reflects on the person who shares it and carries a degree of responsibility. Even if the content is deleted, it might have been saved or shared. Once online, a post can remain accessible for a long time and can resurface months or even years later. Before posting, it is useful to ask yourself if you would be comfortable with that content being visible 5 years from now. What we do online has repercussions. Everyone can use social media in positive or negative ways.

You have a role to play on social media.

By using social media, you are not just entertaining yourself; you are part of an online community, so it’s important to…

• Respect others. Behind each screen is a real person with real emotions. Words can have a real impact, so act wisely and think before posting.

• Verify before posting. Before relaying information, it is essential to verify its veracity. Fake news can spread quickly, so it is important to confirm before sharing.

• Take a step back. A post can shock or anger us, but that doesn’t mean the reaction is  lasting or trustworthy. Sometimes, it is worth it to take a moment before reacting.

• Report, don’t share. If you happen upon harassing or harmful content, the best thing to do is report it, rather than amplifying its impact by sharing it.