Social media has given rise to a whole host of new words and terminology — some technical terms, some common words used in unique ways, and some new words that have caught on and become part of the vernacular. So how do you get started learning this new language? Read on to get a basic understanding of some common social media terms. This is not a comprehensive list by any means, but it is a great way to begin the journey:
Social Media Platform
A website or application which allows individual users to interact in a virtual environment. Some examples of platforms are Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.
Content
Anything that is posted on a social media platform as a stand-alone piece of information. This can take the form of text, images, video, or a combination.
Post
Both a noun and a verb, a “post” is an individual piece of content that is “posted” or published to a social media platform.
Follow/Follower
A social media user who chooses to receive regular updates from your account.
Feed
The homepage of each platform which aggregates news, articles, images, and videos from all of the users you follow.
Engagement
Any sort of connection your followers make with your post. This can be a “like,” a “comment,” a “save,” or a “repost.”
Algorithm
Programs used by social media platforms to determine what content they will display to users.
Profile
The section of the social media platform specific to you, where all your posts are collected. It also includes your bio, profile image, and contact information, that you can customize.
Page
On LinkedIn and Facebook, there are also “Pages,” which are profiles for companies and organizations.
DM/PM
A private channel of communication between individuals on social media called Direct Messaging (DM) or Private Messaging (PM).
Hashtag
The pound sign (#) which, when connected to a keyword or phrase, turns it into a searchable link. See How to Develop an Effective Hashtag Strategy for Social Media for more information.
Tag
Besides hashtags, social media platforms also allow users to add location tags or to tag other users.
Repost
Sharing content from someone else’s account on your profile with credit back to the original poster.
