Sharing Pictures and Stories: What Is Social Media?

Have you ever drawn a picture and wanted to show it to your grandma who lives far away? Grown-ups use apps and websites to do something like that every day — they share photos, videos, and short messages with family and friends, even ones who live in a different city or country. That's called social media, and this lesson helps you understand what it is and how to think about it safely.

- What social media means, in simple words - Some things people share on social media - Why grown-ups have rules about it - One safe way kids can share things with family

Long ago, if you wanted to tell someone news, you had to visit them, call them on the phone, or mail them a letter that could take days to arrive. Social media is a way for people to share photos, short videos, and messages on a phone, tablet, or computer, and their family or friends can see it almost right away, even from very far away. A grown-up might share a photo of a birthday cake, and a grandparent across the country can see it the same day and write back, 'Happy birthday!' That is social media in action — sharing, and getting to hear back from people who care about you.

Social media is meant for grown-ups and older kids, with grown-up rules. That's because not everyone online is someone you know, and some things people share aren't true or aren't kind. A trusted grown-up — like a parent, teacher, or guardian — decides what is okay to share and who is allowed to see it, the same way they decide when you're allowed to cross the street or ride a bike without training wheels.

Some families use a private photo album or a video call, with a grown-up's help, so kids can show off a drawing or say hi to a faraway grandparent. This is different from a public social media page, because only the people the family chooses can see it — it's like sharing a photo album with just your family, instead of posting it somewhere anyone in the world could look.