Answers to Go
SAN MARCOS PUBLIC LIBRARY 625 E. HOPKINS ST. 512-393-8200
Q. I enjoyed your explanation of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram last week. There are some other social networking platforms I’ve heard of but don’t fully understand, such as YouTube and Reddit. Can you explain those?
A. Last week, I briefly explained social networking platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and TikTok. This week I’ll be discussing YouTube, Reddit, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Goodreads.
YouTube is a free video sharing website that makes it easy to watch videos online. You can find all kinds of videos on YouTube: how-to tutorials on almost any topic, cooking demonstrations, book and movie reviews, math and science lessons, fashion tips and a whole lot more. You can even create and upload your own videos to share with others. You can watch videos on YouTube without creating an account, but you will need to register to upload videos or to comment, like or save videos.
The San Marcos Public Library has a YouTube channel featuring our children’s librarian performing puppet shows and sharing favorite children’s songs and rhymes. Be sure to check it out and subscribe to our channel by searching for San Marcos Public Library on YouTube.
Reddit is a website dedicated to social forums and discussion threads. People share their thoughts, post links, ask questions, etc. Reddit is comprised of various communities called subreddits. Subreddits are focused on particular themes, interests, or beliefs, such as News, Car Repair, The Beatles, etc. You can subscribe to as many as you want and your Reddit homepage will only display posts from those subreddits. Reddit is open to anyone to navigate and read freely. You can also register to become more involved.
LinkedIn is a social networking platform for professionals. It is built for business interaction, career search and recruiting. People use LinkedIn to widen professional networks, find new opportunities and connect with other professionals. Your LinkedIn profile usually includes information about your work experience, skills, education, etc.
Pinterest is like a virtual bulletin board that allows users to upload, save, sort and manage images and videos known as pins through collections called pinboards. It is a great place to find new and creative ideas. Whether planning your next big travel adventure, searching for home design concepts, looking for fashion and fitness tips or checking out new recipes, you can find inspiration on Pinterest.
Goodreads is a social networking platform for book lovers. On Goodreads you can find book recommendations, read or write book reviews, and rate books you’ve read. You can also create lists of books you want to read, participate in a yearly reading challenge and join groups that are similar to book clubs. It’s a great tool for finding your next read and connecting with other bibliophiles.
