Module Goal: What Seniors Should Learn

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Understand what social media is and how it works.

• Learn the basic actions used on most social media platforms.

• Connect with family, friends, and communities safely.

• Recognize common online scams and suspicious behavior.

• Protect your personal information using privacy settings.

• Know what to do if you are unsure whether something is safe.

1.What Is Social Media?

Social media is a collection of websites and apps that allow people to communicate, share information, and connect with others online.

People use social media to:

• Stay in touch with family and friends.

• Share photos and videos.

• Read the news.

• Learn new hobbies.

• Join community groups.

• Follow businesses, organizations, and public figures.

• Watch educational and entertainment videos.

One of the biggest benefits of social media is that it allows people to stay connected, even if they live far away.

2.Understanding Your Feed

Most social media apps have a feed.

A feed is a continuously updated list of posts, photos, videos, and news that appears when you open the app.

Your feed is often personalized based on:

• The people you follow.

• Posts you have liked.

• Videos you have watched.

• Topics you search for.

• Groups you have joined.
  This means two people using the same app may see completely different content.

3.Common Social Media Platforms

Facebook

Facebook allows users to:

• Share updates.

• Post photos.

• Send messages.

• Join local community groups.

• Stay connected with friends and family.

Instagram

Instagram focuses mainly on:

• Photos

• Short videos

• Stories

• Creative content

Many businesses, organizations, and creators use Instagram to share updates.

YouTube

YouTube allows people to:

• Watch educational videos.

• Learn new skills.

• Watch news.

• Find exercise videos.

• Watch cooking tutorials.

• Listen to music.

Many videos are free to watch.

TikTok

TikTok features short videos that often include:

• Entertainment

• Humor

• Educational tips

• Recipes

• Crafts

• News

Because videos are very short and spread quickly, always verify important information before believing or sharing it.

X (formerly Twitter)

X allows people to share:

• Short messages

• News updates

• Opinions

• Photos

• Videos

Many organizations and news agencies use X to share breaking news.

4.Basic Social Media Actions

Although each app looks different, most social media platforms use similar features.

Like 

A Like lets someone know you enjoyed or appreciated a post.

It is a quick way to react without writing a comment.

Share

A Share sends a post to other people or places it on your own page.

Remember:

When you share information, you are helping it spread.

Before sharing anything, make sure it comes from a trustworthy source.

Follow or Friend

Following or becoming friends with someone allows you to see more of their posts in your feed.

Only accept friend requests from people you know and trust.

Comment

A Comment lets you respond to a post by writing a message underneath it.

Always be respectful and remember that your comments may be visible to others.

Send a Message

Many social media apps let users send private messages.

Only respond to messages from people you know.

Be cautious if someone you do not know contacts you unexpectedly.