Social media has played a huge role in changing the way we communicate with friends, family and colleagues. From using social networking sites to find long lost friends to creating a portfolio to bag the right job, we have indeed come a long way. Not surprisingly, therefore, billions of people from all over the world are using social networking sites today.
Here are some of the top social networking sites and their unique features.
With over 1.28 billion users, Facebook is the biggest name in the social media world. In just 10 years, it has completely changed the way we share information and connect with people. Unlike other social networking sites that were founded before it, Facebook has been successful in constantly reinventing itself.
Some of its key features include:
• The Like button: One of the most popular features that makes Facebook truly unique. A simple button that tells your friends what you think about their posts.
• News Feed: Initially criticized for cluttering Facebook with too much information, News Feed has become an essential part of the social networking experience.
• Photos: Facebook allows its users to upload photos and albums and tag friends. Over the years, this feature has made Facebook widely popular.
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing site that has revolutionized the concept of user-generated content. It has led to the popularity of video blogging and several other new trends of our times.
Some of its key features include:
• Playlists: Taking customization to the next level, YouTube allows its users to create their own playlists.
• Video Editor: YouTube also provides the ‘Video Editor’ option to enable users edit the videos they upload.
• Annotations: This cool feature allows users to create clickable links within the videos.
LinkedIn is a professional networking site with more than 178.4 users from all over the world. In recent years, LinkedIn has become a preferred platform for finding eligible candidates. In fact instead of creating long résumés to attract potential employers, job seekers are now focusing more on their LinkedIn profiles.
Some of its key features include:
• Résumé Upload: Users can upload their updated résumé to attract potential employers.
• Job Search: Many companies are now using LinkedIn extensively to hire the right people. With a simple search, job seekers can find new opportunities.
• LinkedIn Answers: This interactive feature allows users to ask questions and get answers from different communities.
Social media has rewritten the rules of user engagement. People are more comfortable using social networking sites and the big players are introducing new features to cater to the growing popularity of this medium. Therefore in the coming years, we can expect some more exciting features and tools introduced by the social networking giants to make the experience truly unique.