What is Social Media & How Does it Work?

Published: 20 Sep 2025

Here are some questions that may be shuffling in your mind.

Do you want to make personal branding?
Do you want to improve your business method?
Do you like to learn something interesting?

Then, some virtual platforms, called social media, solve these problems. Let’s take a brief look at the introduction to social media.

Table of Content

What is Social Media?
How does Social Media Work?
What are the Different Types of Social Media?
History of Social Media
What are Examples of Popular Social Media Platforms (sites)?
Social Media Advantages
Social Media Disadvantages
Social Media and Business
Interesting Facts about Social Media
Conclusion
FAQs

Lets dig in!

Social media is a computer based technology that works through the internet. It provides a platform where users can communicate and share their ideas, thoughts, and information with others.

Social media is an integral part of our life. It has a large ocean of content, including news, educational, informational, and many more. Social media is like a big monster (freak) of today that engages people with one another.

A user can build his community by joining and communicating with different groups. Social media is also a source of business growth, such as advertising, promotion, and customer feedback. So, it could help increase business productivity.

Nowadays, these social networking platforms are more rapidly used by every individual.

Without wasting time, let’s dive into the article.

The social media platform is a great invention of human beings that helps users to converse, create web content, and share ideas and information. There are many social media platforms (apps), and all the tools play different roles. Each social media is useable when we enter a username and email account means after creating the account.

Once the profile is created, a user can create and share the content. For example, after login, a user can create content, follow another user’s profile, react to the other user’s idea, make many friends, and give feedback.

Social media use unique algorithms that help display the information a user is interested in and depend on the user profile. Social media frequently employs “feeds,” which allow users to follow through with the content.

Let’s talk about the different types of social media out there. Each type has its own vibe and purpose, so here’s a simple breakdown:

Social Networks
Media-Sharing Networks
Community-Based Networks
Review Board Networks

Brief introduction is mentioned below.

A social network is used to link with one another. Connecting with social media allows you to share thoughts, ideas, and information. The main target of social networks is the user. It is used to help in growing the individual (brands), business, social awareness, communication, lead generation, customer service, and relationship building.

Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are some examples of social networking.

The media-sharing network is a type of social media where users share videos, photographs, and other web media content. This network helps to build the brand, target lead generation, etc. The basic role of media-sharing networking is to share media content.

Some examples of media-sharing networking are Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok

3. Community-Based Networks: Reddit

A community network is also a type of social media. Its primary focus is on the discussion, like a blog forum. In which a user leaves some discussion points required for the detailed discussion.

An example of a community-based network is Reddit.

4. Review Board Networks: yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor

Review network focuses on customer review, which is on the brands, products, or services. Customer reviews are suitable (good) for your business. Because this review helps to find the issues through the review. You can solve them for the best review.

Yelp, Zomato, and TripAdvisor are examples of review board networks.

No doubt, social media is an amazing invention of an extraordinary person. There is a certain history of social media in which it started working. Here is a brief history of social media platforms.

The world’s first social media platform is considered SixDegrees.com, it was introduced in 1997. The name of the creator of this social media platform was Andrew Weinreich. Many users registered themself on this social media platform so they could use it; after that, various other platforms launched, which were successful platforms at the time, like Friendster introduced in 2002 and gained much popularity.

Nowadays, several such platforms with advanced features are frequently available on the internet. All social media platforms have different roles. Users use these platforms according to their desire and need.

Guys, here are some of the most popular social media platforms that people love using every day:

Facebook
YouTube
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Reddit
Twitter
Instagram
WhatsApp
TikTok
Telegram

Below is the brief introduction to each.

1. Facebook: It is a free and the most prominent social networking site where people share their ideas, thoughts, and information. It is steadily growing over the years. All type of businesses uses it for their business development. You can use Facebook after creating a profile, uploading photos and videos, and sending and receiving messages with friends, family, and colleagues.

2. YouTube: The name YouTube comes from you, meaning that the video comes from you, and Tube means television (cathode ray tube). Its parent company is Google, and It is a free video-sharing website. YouTube has a billion active users. It is the best business promotional website where people can upload unique video content. Users can upload and download both short-form videos and long-form videos.

3. LinkedIn: It is a social networking site that helps build a professional community. It is the best platform for personal and professional support.

4. Pinterest: It is a visual social media platform that finds ideas, recipes, styles, and home inspiration according to interests and hobbies. This platform is an excellent source of increased brand awareness; users can quickly discover and pin your content on Pinterest.

5. Reddit: It is a famous American social media website that is used for news. It is a social platform where users create and shares content, and site members promote it through voting. This site includes (consists) of different communities called subreddits for different interests.

6. Twitter: Twitter is a free microblogging social media platform. This platform has very active users. Different users and businesses use it. Companies tweet short information, update their customers or visitors, and can also communicate with their customers.

7. Instagram: It is a free photo and video-sharing social media platform owned by Meta Platform, an American company. A user can upload media that only contain photos and videos. People views, comment, and like the post while sharing it with group, friends, or followers.

8. WhatsApp: WhatsApp is a famous example of social media platform in which a user can send and receive instant messages. Using WhatsApp, a user can send video messages, audio messages, images, and audio and video calls. Many businesses use WhatsApp business to communicate with customers due to instant messages.

9. TikTok: TikTok is a famous example of social media which is most popular among the young generation. It is a video-sharing platform like YouTube but focused only on a short video that includes music, tips, and lipsync video.

10. Telegram: Telegram is also a social media example used for messaging. This app is used on many devices with no limits on media sizes. It has an end-to-end encryption feature that users can use for all activities, including group chat, media, etc.

Here are the benefits of using of social media:

Social media is the ocean of information that can help people in education.
Social media contain all types of information, and you can benefit from it according to your need.
Various professors and teachers have uploaded their lectures to the group. Without going outside, it is the best platform for providing the services.
Social media is also a great source of gathering people in one place, and they can communicate openly.
It is a gathering place of the people who join it can share their ideas and thoughts, promote their businesses, etc.
A user can entertain himself by using social media websites. There are many videos and images that a user can publish or watch.
The government takes benefits from social media sites. It is an effective way to connect with the public.
Through social media, the government raises public awareness about any topic.
People connect with social media due to the latest news.
Social media provide complete information, and regular news sources like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media are more critical for feeding the news and information.

Here are the limitations of using social media:

The main disadvantage of social media is the privacy issue.
These platform has no privacy; anyone can see the post without the permission of the user who posts the content on social media.
Sharing the location with your online community can cause an issue that sometimes can’t be solved.
Cyberbullying is the top drawback of social media.
Some people create social media accounts to tease and harass others. They make someone uncomfortable by teasing them.
Often fake news spreads through social media, which is another drawback of it. Many people make fake news on a hot topic to increase their accounts’ followers.
Hacking means access to the personal information of any person remaining online. It affected most social media users, mainly hackers targeting young people and children. Mental Health Issues.
Social media is harmful to those users who use it frequently. Mainly they are not involved in outdoor activities, and this practice can cause health issues.

Social media is an excellent opportunity for increasing the growth of your business or brand. This platform can provide help in engaging with your customers. You can also find out how people think about your business. Social media offer various options to its users or business-like advertising, mobile applications, and promotional giveaways.

Here are some critical points of social media that help in your business:

Help in growing your brand.
Great opportunity to improve your business method.
You can hire experienced and skilled staff like on the LinkedIn site.
If you have a website, social media help increase the traffic for rank on the search engine.
Through social media, you can attract customers and also get feedback from them.
By using social media, you can know your competitors.

Here are some unique and interesting facts about social media which are following:

The average person now spends about 2 hours and 21 minutes per day on social media.
Globally, people use on average ~6.8 different social media platforms per month.
There are 5.41 billion people using social media worldwide.
Facebook remains top with ~3.07 billion monthly active users globally.
WhatsApp, YouTube, and Instagram each have over 2 billion users.
TikTok is around 1.94 billion monthly users in 2025.
X (formerly Twitter) has about 586 million monthly active users in 2025.
Daily active users (monetizable) on X are ~ 237.8 million.
On average, people in the U.S. spend about 2 hours 9 minutes per day on social media.
Facebook usage time is still holding at about 31 minutes per day on average.

Conclusion

In this guide we have covered what is social media in detail. As someone who studies and works with social media every day, I can say it’s more than just apps on your phone – it’s a space where people connect, share, learn, and even grow their businesses. Social media keeps changing fast, so the best way to enjoy it is to use it wisely and with balance.

Guys, if you still have questions, don’t worry! Just check out the FAQs section below – I’ve answered the most common ones to make things super clear for you.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions which are related to social media.

What is social media?

Social media are websites and apps where people talk, share, and connect online. You can post pictures, videos, messages, or thoughts. It lets friends, family, and strangers join virtual groups or networks. People also use social media to learn new things or follow news. It works for both fun and work.

When and who created social media?

The first social media platform that many people agree on was Six Degrees, created in 1997. It was made by Andrew Weinreich. On Six Degrees, users could make a profile and connect with friends. It laid the foundation for later social media sites.

Who is the No 1 and king of social media?

Facebook is still the number one social media platform in 2025. It has around 3.07 billion monthly active users worldwide. Many people use it every day to connect with others and share content. Because of its very large user base and reach, many call Facebook the “king” of social media now.

What are the uses of social media?

There are different uses of social media, which are the following:

It is used to build own business.
Social media allow users to share their ideas and information.
It is used for spreading the news.
Social media help to develop their community.
Social media update their users.
It is used to motivate young people.

What is the second most popular social media platform?

The second most popular social media platform in 2025 is YouTube. It has about 2.49-2.50 billion monthly active users. Many people use it everyday to watch videos, learn new skills, or follow creators. It is used by people of all ages and for many purposes – entertainment, learning, and more.

What are the types of social media?

There are many types of social media. Some are for social networking (like Facebook, Twitter) where people connect with friends. Others are for photo sharing (Instagram), video sharing (YouTube, TikTok). There are also blogging and community sites (Reddit, Quora), forums, bookmarking sites, and media-sharing platforms. Each type lets you share or interact in different ways.

Why is social media important?

Social media is important because it lets people talk and share instantly, no matter where they are. It gives a lot of knowledge and information – news, tips, learning. It helps people stay in touch with friends and family. It also gives voice to people who want to share their stories or promote causes. For businesses, it is very helpful for growth and finding customers.

Is social media beneficial for business growth?

Yes, social media is very helpful for businesses in 2025. It helps businesses reach many potential customers – locally and globally. Businesses get feedback directly from users, so they can improve. It allows marketing in different ways – ads, content, videos. Also, social media helps build loyalty: when customers talk back or follow, they feel connected to the brand.

What was the world’s first social media platform?

The earliest widely recognized social media platform is SixDegrees.com (1997). It let users create profiles and list friends, and connect with people. Before SixDegrees there were smaller sites, forums or chat rooms, but SixDegrees had many features of modern social media. It was a major early stepping stone to what social media would become.

What are the most popular social media platforms?

Here are some of the most popular social media platforms in 2025:

Facebook with about 3.07 billion monthly active users
WhatsApp with about 2.78 billion users
YouTube with ~ 2.50 billion users
Instagram ~ 2 billion users
TikTok ~ 1.6-1.9 billion users

What is Social Media & How Does it Work?