social media

Meaning

Websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or participate in social networking. In daily conversation, it is treated as an uncountable collective noun and is rarely used with a definite article when speaking generally.

Examples

• She spends too much time on social media instead of studying.

  She spends too much time on social media instead of studying.

• Many businesses use social media to advertise their products directly to customers.

  Many businesses use social media to advertise their products directly to customers.

• I decided to delete my social media accounts to get a break from my phone.

  I decided to delete my social media accounts to get a break from my phone.

• Which social media platform do you use the most these days?

  Which social media platform do you use the most these days?

• The news spread quickly across social media within minutes of the event.

  The news spread quickly across social media within minutes of the event.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I saw it on the social media.

  ✓ I saw it on social media.

  Do not use the definite article 'the' before 'social media' when talking about it in a general sense.

• ✗ He has many social medias.

  ✓ He has many social media accounts.

  The term 'social media' is uncountable. To refer to individual platforms or profiles, use 'social media platforms', 'networks', or 'accounts'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I try not to check ___ first thing in the morning.

  💡 Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X.

  Show answer

  social media

• Our marketing team is focused on growing our ___ presence.

  💡 Noun adjunct used to describe online networking platforms.

  Show answer

  social media