--- title: 3 Easy Steps to Expand Your Understanding of Social Media description: My good friend Jen asked me for some help getting current with technology for a job she is aiming for last night.  The challenge got my brain going o image: https://www.thrivedigitalera.com/hs-fs/file-1148526017-jpg/images/social_media_sites_-_google_search-resized-600.jpg --- [![thrive logo](https://www.thrivedigitalera.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/header-logo.png?width=200&height=58&name=header-logo.png "thrive logo")](https://www.thrivedigitalera.com/) # Blog **Thrive** Thrive Magazines [![resource-img-2](https://www.thrivedigitalera.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/resource-img-2.png?width=275&name=resource-img-2.png "resource-img-2")](https://flipboard.com/@maureenennis/digital-age-leadership-essentials-pvblgrp5y?utm_campaign=widgets&utm_medium=web&utm_source=magazine_widget) [Digital Age Leadership Essentials](https://flipboard.com/@maureenennis/digital-age-leadership-essentials-pvblgrp5y?utm_campaign=widgets&utm_medium=web&utm_source=magazine_widget) by Maureen Ennis [![resource-img-3](https://www.thrivedigitalera.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/resource-img-3.png?width=275&name=resource-img-3.png "resource-img-3")](https://flipboard.com/@maureenennis/high-impact-manager-b19uohj4y?utm_campaign=widgets&utm_medium=web&utm_source=magazine_widget) [High-Impact Manager](https://flipboard.com/@maureenennis/high-impact-manager-b19uohj4y?utm_campaign=widgets&utm_medium=web&utm_source=magazine_widget) by Maureen Ennis [![resource-img-1](https://www.thrivedigitalera.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/resource-img-1.png?width=275&name=resource-img-1.png "resource-img-1")](https://flipboard.com/@maureenennis/leading-with-emotional-intelligence-hvo3dpt1y) [Leading with Emotional Intelligence](https://flipboard.com/@maureenennis/leading-with-emotional-intelligence-hvo3dpt1y) by Maureen Ennis Latest Posts ## [3 Easy Steps to Expand Your Understanding of Social Media](https://www.thrivedigitalera.com/work-out-loud/bid/103184/3-easy-steps-to-expand-your-understanding-of-social-media) Posted by [Maureen Ennis](https://www.thrivedigitalera.com/blog/author/maureen-ennis) ![](https://www.thrivedigitalera.com/hs-fs/file-1359618429-png/Headshots/Maureen.png?width=35&name=Maureen.png) Find me on: [![linkedin logo](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/linkedin-24x24.png) LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/colemanennis/) Jul 2, 2014 6:47:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![social media sites Google Search resized 600](https://www.thrivedigitalera.com/hs-fs/file-1148526017-jpg/images/social_media_sites_-_google_search-resized-600.jpg?width=400&name=social_media_sites_-_google_search-resized-600.jpg)My good friend Jen asked me for some help getting current with technology for a job she is aiming for last night.  The challenge got my brain going on the most effective way to help her connect the dots from...    - what she does know from all of her life experiences **to ** - confidence and competence with modern practices for work and living enabled by the technology and social tools that is now a part of everyday work and life.   I know the gap is not as big as she feels it is, because Jen is a smart, creative person, technical person at heart.  Here are some of the steps I think are important to close the gap for anyone.   1. **Start with what you know.   **Most people are using some kind of social media in their life, like Facebook.  The fundamental actions you are using are consistent across all of the platforms: *** profile, newsfeed, post, share, like, friend,*** etc.  Chances are you know those basics. Take what you know and try out another platform:  LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter or Instagram.  Learning a new platform is more like switching from a Toyota to a Chevy than the change and training required to learn (or remember) how to drive an automatic.  2. **Learn the language.  **Take an hour to understand some of the distinctions, it's a lot less complicated then it seems.   If you understand the definition, description, meaning and relevance of a handful of concepts your ability to use them effectively with skyrocket.  At a minimum your familiarity with the words and concepts will eliminate the blocks that surface when you encounter them.   Here are a few concepts to add to the basics noted above, with links to explanations some of my favorite sources. - [Social Networking](http://www.commoncraft.com/video/social-networking-facebook-0) - [Cloud Computing](http://www.techterms.com/definition/cloud_computing) - [Wiki](http://www.commoncraft.com/video/wikis)s and [Blogs](http://www.commoncraft.com/video/blogs) - [Aggregators](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_network_aggregation) - [VideoChat](http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/video+chat) 3. **[Work Out Loud:](https://www.thrivedigitalera.com/work-out-loud/)**  Use the tools themselves to continue your learning and share the experience with others.   Write a blog post, research your interest areas, keep reflecting on how the tools are either already in your life, or could be a useful tool.     I'll do my part by updating this post as I try out more ideas with Jen. :) Topics: [working out loud](https://www.thrivedigitalera.com/blog/topic/working-out-loud), [WOL](https://www.thrivedigitalera.com/blog/topic/wol), [digital literacy](https://www.thrivedigitalera.com/blog/topic/digital-literacy) ### Thrive Insights delivered straight to your inbox ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [Leadership (10)](https://www.thrivedigitalera.com/blog/topic/leadership) - [change (10)](https://www.thrivedigitalera.com/blog/topic/change) - [business leader (9)](https://www.thrivedigitalera.com/blog/topic/business-leader) - 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