Using Social Media

The Evolving World of Social Media

Since the first Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS) grant was awarded in 1999, monumental shifts have taken place in the way we communicate and receive information—and technology is the impetus. Digital downloads, streaming video, and smart phone apps have become omnipresent in just a few years, and social media usage has continued to soar since the first MySpace page was created.

It’s important to remember that the data show social media usage is shifting like sand beneath our feet. This continuous evolution spurs us to keep a collective eye on trends that emerge within the demographics of our audiences and spread across social media platforms, such as:

• Twitter’s use among young adults is on the rise;
• Google+ has launched and is positioning itself to take on Facebook as the social networking site of choice; and
• Tumblr—a popular blogging platform, particularly among younger demographics, is one of the fastest growing social media sites, having tripled its U.S. audience in the past year and surpassing WordPress in the number of blogs it hosts.

The CSM Center looks forward to providing SS/HS grantees with up-to-date resources, tools, and tips for using the social media platforms that will help you reach—and engage with—the right audiences, right now.