It’s easy to lose track of all the social media sites that seem to be constantly popping up these days. From Facebook to Twitter, you can often wonder where your teen gets the time to even log into their accounts, never mind updating them. Here is a quick guide to some of the most popular social media sites that are currently being used by teens:
 
Facebook
One of the oldest but most popular social media sites and needless to say the majority of parents already have a Facebook account of their own. While for the most part Facebook can seem harmless, it’s still important that both you and your teen are extra careful with what you’re posting online.
 
Twitter
Twitter has changed drastically since it was first created, while the challenge to fit all the information into 140 characters still remains, it’s now a place where many teens like to keep up to date with their own celebrity idols. While there is nothing wrong with that, it's important that your teen is aware that what may seem like their idol online, could be a marketing gimmick in disguise.
 
Instagram
Instagram enables teens to share the latest goings on in their life through photos or 15 second videos. While majority of teens think their “selfies” are just a bit of fun, your teen still needs to be careful, as once anything is published on the site, it can easily be accessed by anyone online.
 
Tumblr
Tumblr is a cross between Twitter and a blog. While the social media site has many pluses such as creating a great space for teens to express themselves, there are of course downsides too. Tumblr has very little restrictions, so it is quite easy to find unsuitable content on the site. So it might a good idea for your teen to avoid Tumblr until they’re of suitable age.
 
Snapchat
The popular photo sharing app allows users to send quick pictures to their friends but only lets them see that picture for a limited amount of time. The app is extremely popular with teenagers but there is a danger that they could end up receiving or even be encouraged to send inappropriate pictures of themselves or to one another.
 
It’s always a good idea to talk to your teen about keeping safe online, as they never know who might be watching, especially on their social media accounts.

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