Digital Champions – how to join a social media network

As part of the Digital Champions Network, we are available for telephone, or email support between 09:30 and 12pm, Monday to Friday.

Please contact us at info@chainlane.org or on 01423 861 066 if you, or someone you know could benefit from some guidance on anything digital.

Making local connections: What is a Social Media Network?

Social Media is a sharing of information with groups of people e.g. family members, friends and clubs using different types of media, such as photographs, text and videos. Social networking means the use of online social networks such as Facebook to connect and communicate with other people. A social network can include ‘blogs’ and ideas, groups that you can join, private messaging, a chat facility and file- or photo-sharing opportunities.

Some of the Benefits of using social media are:-

• Joining is usually free.
• People of all ages can communicate with anybody who has an account, no matter where they are in the world.
• You can connect with people with similar interests or relationships and share things, including websites, photos, likes and dislikes.
• You can communicate and stay connected with friends and family.
• You can share photos digitally, allowing friends and family access.
• It is available 24 hours a day, every day.
• It can usually be accessed via a username and password on any computer with internet access.

Nextdoor (https://nextdoor.co.uk/)is a new kind of local social networking site, which enables you to connect and communicate with other residents in your neighbourhood. It’s where communities come together to greet newcomers, exchange recommendations, and read the latest local news. Where neighbours support local businesses and get updates from public agencies.

Twitter is a social networking site that allows people all over the world to comment on news, events and things that are happening to them as they occur. Known as ‘microblogging’, these comments – known as ‘tweets’ – have to be very short (they cannot be longer than 140 characters) click here to find more about it

 How about trying Whatsapp? Once you download it as an ‘app’ you can create groups for group chats and message or call people for free. Click here for a ‘how to join’ guide

LinkedIn is a social network that focuses on professional networking and career development. It can show off your talents, skills and experience so that others can see what you do. You can use it to display your CV, search for jobs, and enhance your reputation by posting updates and interacting with other people in your industry. For a ‘how to join’ guide, click here

Click here for a guide on how to join Nextdoor & other social networking websites

Staying Safe & Privacy Settings:

Each user on a social networking site will have a profile page and will usually have some control over what they allow people to see. Some people share with everybody, while others take advantage of privacy settings and allow access only to those known to them (their ‘friends’).

Before joining a social networking site, think about the advantages and disadvantages to work out if is right for you and how to stay safe. To find out more about some of the pros and cons of being on Facebook Click here 

click here for advice about How to stay safe on Facebook.

This Learn my Way poster has some really good tips about online safety and how to create a strong password.

 

To create a Facebook account:
Open your Facebook app and tap Create New Facebook Account > Next.
Enter the name you go by in everyday life, then tap Next.
Select your date of birth, then tap Next.
Select your gender, then tap Next.
Enter your mobile phone number and tap Next. To use an email instead, tap Sign Up with Email Address.
Create a password and tap Next > Sign Up.
To finish creating your account, you need to confirm your email or mobile phone number.

Why not click here to take a look at our Facebook page for ideas and become part of our online community.

Using Chat or Messenger on Facebook

There are times when you are using Facebook that you might want to send a message directly to one or more of your friends. This is often known as DM (direct message) or PM (Private Message) as it goes directly to the person (or persons) you address it to and not onto your timeline. It is similar to an email but has the advantage of being live if the person is logged into their Facebook account.

Video calling

 

The importance of being online was magnified in the social isolation brought about during the Covid-19 pandemic. As a member of the Digital Champions Network, it is the intention of Chain Lane Community Hub to continue to support local people with all things digital as a ‘Remote Digital Champion’. We are available for telephone, or email support between 09:30 and 12pm Monday to Friday. Please contact us at info@chainlane.org or on 01423 861 066 if you, or someone you know could benefit from some guidance.

We are also promoting the benefits of digital technologies here on our website and through social media. Why not click here to take a look at our Facebook page for ideas and become part of our online community.