An increasingly popular way of connecting with others is through social media. While it does not, and should not, replace face-to-face interactions, social media can be a useful tool for keeping in touch with others and staying up to date on current events and trends.
Before setting up an account on a social media site, one should consider what they’d like to achieve. When registering an account, one may decide how much information about themselves they would like to share and adjust their privacy settings accordingly. Setting one’s profile to “private” or “friends only” allows one to control who can view their posts. When using social media, create a strong unique password, do not post private information, and watch out for scams.
Tips to avoid scams:
- Don't open any links that an unfamiliar account sends you.
- Avoid responding to messages from people you do not know.
- Watch out for accounts impersonating someone you know. Typically, it is easy to spot a fake account, and it is not something you should be overly worried about. Proceed with caution if:
- You are already friends with or following a profile but you get a request from an account claiming to be the same person
- You get a strange message from a friend’s account that does not seem like them—reach out to them through a different platform before responding
- An account you follow starts posting frequent and unusual things to their profile—suspicious investing or finance tips are common things that hackers will post
- You are already friends with or following a profile but you get a request from an account claiming to be the same person
With polio survivors’ worsening mobility issues, social media can provide an outlet and connection that complements support group in-person meetings. By utilizing social media, one does not have to leave the house to interact, exchange ideas, assistance, and receive training.
Making Sense of Popular Social Networking Sites
Facebook: Good for keeping in touch with friends and family; sharing thoughts, videos and photos. You can share with your entire network by posting on your timeline, sending instant messages, or sending private messages. You can “follow” any business Page (www.facebook.com/polioplace) or Group (discussion group - www.facebook.com/groups/1180225212851418), and be notified when postings are made on those pages or groups. Other Facebook features include Stories, Events, Marketplace, Messenger, Games, and News.
Instagram: Instagram is a visual-centric platform with a primary focus on sharing photos and videos. Users can edit, apply filters, and post photos and videos that will be shared with their followers. Instagram includes additional features like Stories, Reels, Instagram Shopping, Direct Messages, and Explore where you can discover content curated for your interests. Follow PHI at www.instagram.com/postpoliohealth/.
*Facebook and Instagram are both owned by Meta so connecting your accounts, and posting to both platforms simultaneously is easy.
X (formerly Twitter): Keeping up with news and microblogging (telling how you feel or what you’re doing in 280 characters or less) are Twitter’s main uses. You can “follow” any Member of X to be notified when that individual or business makes their postings for you to review. You can like, comment, and reply to posts as well as privately communicate through Direct Messages. Follow PHI at https://twitter.com/PolioPlace.
YouTube: Online video sharing that allows you to view a vast variety of videos. You can then follow video creators (also called content creators) and share them with others. Your personal account is called a “channel,” this is where you can specify your interests and the program will suggest relevant videos. YouTube is popular for people to search for information (repairs, hobbies, research, learning, and entertainment). YouTube Shorts is a feature with shorter vertical videos that will play diverse content tailored to your interests as you scroll, similar to Instagram Reels. Follow PHI at https://www.youtube.com/@post-poliohealthinternational.