social media: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very HighNeutral to Formal (used across all registers)
Quick answer
What does “social media” mean?
websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking
The collective online platforms and technologies that facilitate interactive communication, community building, content sharing, and networking among individuals, groups, and organizations, often influencing public discourse, marketing, and personal relationships.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling of related words may follow regional conventions (e.g., 'socialise' vs. 'socialize').
Connotations
Largely identical. Slight tendency for British English to use 'social media' more frequently in critical or regulatory contexts.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “social media” in a Sentence
use social mediabe on social mediapost on social mediaengage with social mediamonitor social mediaVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “social media” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The company will social media the campaign launch next week.
- She social medias her artwork to gain followers.
American English
- The team needs to social media the event for maximum reach.
- He social medias his political opinions daily.
adverb
British English
- The news spread social-media quickly.
- They promoted the product social-media effectively.
American English
- The video was shared social-media widely.
- She communicates social-media professionally.
adjective
British English
- The social-media landscape is constantly changing.
- They reviewed the social-media policy.
American English
- We need a better social-media strategy.
- The social-media manager updated the guidelines.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to channels for marketing, customer engagement, brand management, and market research.
Academic
Studied as a phenomenon affecting sociology, communication, psychology, and information technology.
Everyday
Used to describe common activities like sharing photos, messaging friends, or following news.
Technical
In computing, refers to software systems enabling user-generated content and networked interactions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “social media”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “social media”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “social media”
- Using a plural verb for the uncountable sense (e.g., 'Social media are' vs. 'Social media is').
- Misspelling as 'socialmedia' (should be two words).
- Confusing 'social media' (platforms) with a 'social medium' (rare singular form).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is usually treated as a singular uncountable noun (e.g., 'Social media is influential'), though the plural can be used when referring to multiple distinct platforms.
'Social media' is the broader ecosystem of platforms for sharing content. A 'social network' is a specific type of social media platform focused on connecting individuals (e.g., Facebook). All social networks are social media, but not all social media are purely social networks (e.g., YouTube is primarily for video sharing).
The term gained widespread usage in the mid-2000s with the rise of platforms like MySpace, Facebook, and YouTube, though earlier forms like blogs and forums existed.
Informally, yes (e.g., 'to social media something' meaning to promote it on social platforms), but this is considered jargon and is not standard in formal writing.
websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking.
Social media is usually neutral to formal (used across all registers) in register.
Social media: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsəʊʃl ˈmiːdiə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsoʊʃl ˈmiːdiə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “go viral on social media”
- “break the internet”
- “trending on social media”
- “a social media blackout”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SOCIAL' as connecting with people and 'MEDIA' as the means (like TV or radio) – together they are the digital means for social connection.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL MEDIA IS A PUBLIC SQUARE / A TOOL / A NETWORK / A MEGAPHONE.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is typically considered a social media platform?