What are four of the top social media networks doing to protect children?

With reports of cyberbullying on the rise, a guide to what Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram are doing, and whether it’s enough

According to recent report from NSPCC, ChildLine conducted 35,000 counselling sessions for low self-esteem between April 2014 and March 2015. The report blames “a constant onslaught from cyber-bullying, social media and the desire to copy celebrities,” as key reasons.

Julia Fossi, senior analyst for online safety at NSPCC says that while most platforms are taking steps to improve safety, social networks must be held more accountable for the content they host.

She says that social sites, which often use tracking technology for adverts and marketing could use a similar technology “to identify potential bullying issues and help determine what an effective intervention would look like.”

With reports of cyberbullying on the rise and girls more likely to be affected, Will Gardner, CEO, Childnet International says that the area is “challenging” but agrees that sites must continue innovating with technology to tackle the issue.

Here, we look at what four of the biggest social media networks are currently doing.

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8 new Twitter features to watch

The social network is increasing its character limit, launching new advertising products and cracking down on bullying. Here's how the updates affect communicators.

Twitter's looking for a turnaround year.

Although the social network released some interesting new features (most notably Periscope), those debuts evidently weren't appealing enough for the 77 percent of Internet users who don't use Twitter..

In 2016, Twitter might make some changes that affect how communicators use the platform. Here are the changes that have occurred, or are likely to occur, on Twitter this year.

1. Character increase
2. Conversational ads (and other ad products)
3. Twitter Camera
4. Twitter Q&A
5. Anti-harassment/violence/bullying efforts
6. Twitter Polls
7. Twitter for Mac update
8. Kanye's new album

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Virtual learning spaces

Clarify your doubts, view digital dissections, videos of experiments and listen to lectures by experts from around the world on the social media… Learning could be fun this way.

The Internet has thrown open a whole new world of information access and it’s not just the regular educational sites we’re talking about. Even those platforms assumed to be of a frivolous, social nature are now being seen as powerful tools of education. Who would have thought Facebook, Twitter and YouTube would help you score extra in your tests?

“If anything, it (social media) just opens up another channel of communication from students to teachers,” comments a person on a website. Not just a channel but numerous and simultaneous channels that connect you to several material at one shot.

Here’s a look at the social media spaces that are underestimated educational tools. Read the full article

52 cool facts and stats about social media (2012 edition)

In July 2010, I (Danny Brown) wrote a post called "52 Cool Facts About Social Media" to explore some of the mind-boggling and truly impressive numbers from the space in which we play. I also wanted to offer a fun fact for every week of the year, for anyone playing social media trivia games. At the time, the Big Five were (arguably) Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and blogging. My, what a difference two years make. So, to bring some of these figures up to date, as well as include some of the newer names on the scene, here are 52 cool facts about social media, the 2012 edition

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Info-graphics: How To Twitter

New to Twitter and wondering how to get started? This post have made this fun 'how to twitter' infographic to help one get going quickly. It tries to answer beginner questions such as how to set up your Twitter account, how to start tweeting, and how to use hashtags and lists. Hope you will enjoy!

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