Social media is a collection of online platforms and applications that allow users to create, share, and consume content, and interact with others in virtual communities: 

Purpose

Social media is a way to connect with others, share ideas, and build relationships. 

Features

Users can create and share content, participate in discussions, and engage with others through likes, shares, and comments. 

Examples

Popular social media platforms include Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Instagram. 

Uses

People use social media to stay in touch with friends and family, and to build social networks with others who share similar interests. Businesses use social media to market their products, track customer concerns, and build relationships with their followers. 

Impact

Social media is credited with helping people build community, but it has also been criticized for facilitating disinformation and hate speech. 

Social media preferences vary by age and gender. For example, younger people are more likely to prefer Instagram, while older generations tend to prefer Facebo

ok and WhatsApp.