Which apps is my daughter using?
Instagram is a photo and video sharing platform. The app has two ways of sharing. One is through a post, which can be a single photo, a series of photos, a video, or a series of videos. Posts show up on your profile and remain there. The other option is to post a story. Stories can be a single photo, a series of photos, a video, or a series of videos. Stories are removed from your profile after 24 hours. Instagram also has a direct messaging feature that allows posts and stories to be shared as well as have conversations.
Learn more about Instagram here, here, and here.
YouTube is a video sharing service where users can watch, like, share, comment and upload their own videos. The video service can be accessed on PCs, laptops, tablets and via mobile phones. YouTube is a free to use service and a can be a great space for teens to discover things they like. For many young people, YouTube is used to watch music videos, comedy shows, how to guides, recipes, hacks and more. Teens also use the video-sharing service to follow their favorite vloggers (video blogger), subscribe to other YouTubers and celebrities they are interested in.
Learn more about YouTube here, here, and here.
Snapchat is a multimedia messaging platform with three main functions. One function is the messaging where you can share text, photos, or videos, with a single person or a designated group of people. The texts, photos, or videos can be set for a designated viewing time and “disappear” after that time, with the exception that texts can be saved. The second function is stories. Users can post photos or videos as part of a story, which can be seen by either users or the public, depending on the privacy settings. These stories are no longer viewable after 24 hours. The final function is the discover option, where users can access videos or articles.
Learn more about Snapchat here, here, and here.
Tik Tok is a video sharing platform. Users are able to watch and make short videos, often to music, to share with friends and the public. It’s like Karaoke for the digital age. Users can watch videos of others or create their own short video clips. Users tend to use this app to record videos of themselves lip-synching to the latest music. The videos are recorded in 15-second clips and users can add special effects before sharing them on this platform. TikTok also enables live streaming of videos via Live.Me and interaction with the audience via a chat function.
