How to navigate social media with so much to choose from
Just as you thought social media platforms had all corners of the internet covered, along comes Threads, created by Facebook and Instagram owners Meta. In what has been described as a rival to Twitter, Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg has already had over 10 million people signed up in the first few hours of launching. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter For some, it’s a matter of jumping in with both feet and navigating the waters from there. Others will sit back and take a little more cautious approach. Either way, learning how to navigate the social media jungle using these few simple tips will be invaluable... Take a social media detox It’s easy to use social media compulsively and excessively. You can become so accustomed to scrolling through posts, laughing at videos and liking images that it can take over. According to data found by audience insights platform GWI, 29 per cent of people across Britain use more than five social media apps, with 54 per cent of 16-24-year-olds doing the same. “There has been a substantial surge in social media consumption over the past decade. What initially began as occasional Facebook ‘check-ins’ has now evolved into spending six to eight hours per day on various social media platforms such as TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and now, Threads,” said Marvin Winkelmann, the managing director of AFK Digital. That’s why he says moderation is key. “I strongly advocate for individuals to not only take periodic breaks from social media to rejuvenate their wellbeing but also to consider reducing their engagement before bedtime and during meals. By doing so, we can prioritise face-to-face interactions, which hold even greater significance than merely keeping up with the seemingly idealised virtual world.” Practise the right social media etiquette Winkelmann highlights that different platforms have different niches in terms of how people generally interact. “But a rule of thumb should always be to treat other users with respect.” It’s also why Chris Hackett, the founder of Face Digital, an SEO advisory firm, believes we all need to learn the right social media etiquette, which dictates how people should behave around others online. “Always be yourself,” he said. “Whether you’re using social media for personal or professional reasons, people connect with authenticity. This doesn’t mean you should be airing out your personal details, but you don’t have to hide behind an online persona. “Be careful with what you say. It may feel like a safe space, but using social media to vent or voice controversial opinions can come back to haunt you in the future. “And don’t post anything that you wouldn’t want an employer to see. Social media is, for the most part, public. Before you fire off that tweet, imagine a potential employer reading it and what they may think.” Be careful of negativity Hackett advised against getting into arguments on social media. “There are a lot of keyboard warriors around, and there is nothing to gain by arguing with them. If you don’t like something, scroll past it.” Plus, some of the negativity on social media could have an impact on your mental health – which is why it’s important to look after yourself. “Social media has become a constant figure in everyone’s lives, to the point where it can be detrimental to our mental health. The best way to deal with negativity is to take time away from toxic online environments,” said Hackett. Winkelmann added: “It is crucial to acknowledge that social media platforms tend to accentuate negativity due to the provocative nature of negative content. People love to disagree and share their opinions online. “As a result, the algorithms used by these platforms are designed to amplify such content. It is important for individuals to remain aware of this fact, bearing in mind that much of what is observed online is often an embellished representation of reality anyway.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-07-08 23:52
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David and Victoria Beckham throw Prada party to celebrate Harper’s 12th birthday: ‘CHIC!’
David and Victoria Beckham have celebrated their daughter Harper’s 12th birthday a couple of days earlier with a party at the Prada Caffè in Harrods. The couple’s only daughter will turn a year older on Monday 10 July. She wore a silk lilac slip dress with lace trim from Victoria’s label, with sporty trainers and a sparkly £950 Prada Re-Edition handbag. The proud designer shared snaps from the party on her Instagram account, including a snap of her and Harper with their arms around one another, as well as the birthday girl with her famous footballer father and brothers Romeo and Cruz. Victoria wrote in the caption: “Harper Seven is 12!! (almost) Prada party for Harper Seven CHIC!” Harper was also pictured beaming with a large personalised cake in front of her, with 12 tall white candles waiting to be blown out. Fans praised Harper for her style and wished her a happy birthday. “You can just tell that she’s a genuine good kid! Happy birthday Harper!” one person wrote. Another said: “She’s so tall now! What a lovely young lady she’s become.” The luxurious Prada Caffè features pistachio-coloured walls and interiors, with black-and-white checkerboard floors and marble tables. The themed café opened in March and promises to bring a taste of Milan to Harrods. It comes after Victoria and David marked their 24th wedding anniversary last week with three of their four children. Their eldest son Brooklyn lives in the US with his wife, Nicola Peltz. The couple married on 4 July 1999 in a ceremony at Ireland’s Luttrellstown Castle. They paid tribute to one another on social media by posting throwback photographs of each other and sharing sweet messages. Victoria previously described Harper as her “number one muse” and has created designs especially for her. In January, she shared a mirror selfie of her and Harper, with the then-11-year-old in a strapless ombre gown and sneakers. She wrote: “Mummy loved creating this dress for you.” However, Harper doesn’t always share her former pop star mother’s sartorial tastes. Last year, Victoria revealed just what her daughter thought of the Spice Girls’ iconic miniskirts. Speaking to Vogue Australia, the Spice Girl formerly known as Posh Spice said her daughter is “not one of these kids who are going out with a full face of make-up and a crop top”. “She actually said to me recently, ‘Mummy, I’ve seen some pictures of you when you were in the Spice Girls and your skirts were just unacceptable. They were just too short,” Victoria recalled. “And she was actually quite disgusted at how short my skirts were. “I said, ‘Are you never going to wear skirts like that?’ She said, ‘Absolutely not’. We’ll see.” In the same interview Victoria revealed that she was concerned that Harper will be subjected to body shaming when she is old enough to use social media. She said that her daughter was not allowed on social media yet, but she was concerned about “how cruel people can be”. “She’s at that age where her body is going to start changing, but it’s about making sure that we communicate a lot as a family and she surrounds herself with nice friends,” Victoria said. “But it is quite terrifying, I can’t lie.” Read More Conflict, toxic group chats and organised fun: How we came to despise the hen do Woman exits plane after tirade about passenger who is ‘not real’: ‘Final Destination vibes’ Who is in the Royal Box on the sixth day of Wimbledon? David Beckham pays tribute to Victoria on 24th wedding anniversary Every Barbie-inspired outfit Margot Robbie has worn so far How to make your summer tan last longer
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2023-07-08 23:27
Woman with 800 tattoos says no one will hire her
A Welsh mum with 800 tattoos has candidly opened up about her struggles getting a job and believes it's down to her body ink. Melissa Sloan, 46, first started getting her tattoos at the age of 20 and quickly became addicted. She has since gone on to get three layers of ink on her face, tattooing over older sketches. Melissa previously had a job cleaning toilets but has since struggled to secure a new role. "I can’t get a job," Melissa told the Daily Star. "I applied for a job cleaning toilets where I live, and they won’t have me because of my tattoos. "People have said I have never had a job in my life, but I have had one once, and it didn’t last long," Melissa continued, adding that: "If someone offered me a job tomorrow, I would go and work – I would take that offer." The mum-of-two went on to tell the Mirror that she'll continue getting inked until the age of 70 if she can. "Every bit of skin will be covered even if I’m turning blue, my face is already turning blue — I look like a Smurf," she told the publication. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter While Melissa may sound like a dream client for tattoo parlours, it turns out many have actually banned her, along with her child's school and local pub. "Tattoo shops shut the door on me – tattooists won't let me in," Melissa told the Daily Star. "When I had this done [my face], there's one about five miles up the road, and they won't do it. She continued: "They won't do it because I'm beyond help – because I've gone too far." Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-07-08 23:27
Cessna jet crashes with at least six on board in California
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Twitter reacts to David de Gea's Man Utd exit
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