Teens have the opportunity to carefully use or misuse social media apps. It is important for caring adults to understand popular apps and their functions so that they can relate to young people and support their positive use of technology. The need to use apps or know everything about them isn't necessary, but at least a general understanding of them would be helpful. 

Trends can be hard to keep up with because of constant updates and changes taking place. Although there are differences across platforms, most social media apps are similar. Overall, social media is primarily used to build connections and create content that is liked and shared by others. Check out the following list of apps popular with teens and how they can be used and misused. There are new apps being created every day, so this list is not exhaustive.

YouTube

  • Uses: Sharing videos, creating and watching vlogs, showing talents, gaming, product reviews, and earning money

  • Misuses: Creating false video names, bullying, harassment in comments, and harmful pranks

Instagram

  • Uses: Posting, liking, and sharing pictures and videos, selling products, raise awareness, create boards, empowering hashtags

  • Misuses: bullying, harassment, finsta (fake profiles), comparing self to others, stalking, threats, grooming, face tuning

Snapchat

  • Uses: Fun filters, showing talents, connecting with others through geotagging, having 'streaks' or consistent contact with other users

  • Misuses: Revenge porn, taking screen shots of private messages, being “visible” on the map (location always on), messages disappear after 24 hours

TikTok

  • Uses: Sharing talents, gaining knowledge, “life hacks”, dance challenges, finding likeminded people, making friends

  • Misuses: Location tracking, harming others for views or likes, dangerous challenges, disclosing abuse (there’s a trend where people record a video of them creating something and the voiceover is a traumatic story), promoting violence, peer pressure

Yubo

  • Uses: Meeting new people, creating a sense of community, live streaming, created for young people, sharing knowledge

  • Misuses: Falsifying ages, harassment, bullying, pressure to chat or send nudes, videos can reveal location