social media
2 synonyms for social media, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Websites and apps on which people create profiles and share posts, photos, video and messages with a network of other users; the platforms collectively, and the activity of using them.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
social networks
socials
How to use social media
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
on social media
social media manager
social media presence
quit social media
Normally treated as a singular mass noun in everyday use ("social media is"), though careful writers sometimes keep the plural ("social media are"). Casually shortened to socials.
Etymology
A compound of social and media, media being the plural of medium in the sense of a channel of communication.
Full origin of social media →Frequently asked questions
Is social media singular or plural?
Both are found. Everyday usage overwhelmingly treats it as singular ("social media is addictive") because it functions as a mass noun. The plural verb is defensible in formal writing but now sounds old-fashioned.
What is the difference between social media and social networking?
Social media is the broader term for the platforms and the content shared on them. Social networking is one activity you do on them: building and maintaining connections with other people.
