Getting started online

Social Media or as its also known ‘Social Networking’ are interactive computer-mediated technologies that facilitate the creation or sharing of information, ideas, career interests and other forms of expression via virtual communities and networks.

It is really important that whilst using these platforms you keep your personal information safe. Keeping your privacy settings on will stop both hackers and marketers from looking at your browsing and social medial usage. 

Avoiding sharing personal details helps to keep you safe as well. Remember that when you post a message, photograph, comment, video, etc, you must think of what you are posting, where you are posting it to and who will view the post. 
Will those individuals share it, and then in turn will those new individuals share it? Thus, sometimes resulting in, before you know it, 100 people have shared your post.

Remember:  

• Nothing is private
• Your friends all have friends
• Content has a longer shelf-life
• Your posts are searchable

Even if you have nothing to hide, you need to protect your privacy because something completely innocent-seeming today might lead to a huge personal threat in the future. To prepare for these unknown assaults on your data, the only thing you can do is to make it less accessible.

The internet is full of networking tools that let you communicate with family and friends.

There are many varieties of Social Media, some examples are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, as well as more communicative platforms such as WhatsApp and Skype.

If you have access to either a webcam for your PC/Laptop or your phone has a video/camera then you can download WhatsApp or Skype to communicate with friends and family abroad over the internet.

WhatsApp also allows you to instant message as does Facebook which allows you to privately message or post what you are up to as well as your daily thoughts. You can also do this via Twitter but you have a limitation on how much you can write on public text messages.

Within all Social Media platforms, you will be able to find and connect with friends and family as well as companies and organisations such as Colchester Borough Council and your favourite celebrities/shows. You can follow them to find out what they have to say, find any offers they may have, or ask them questions.