Social Media Cheat Sheet

Users can upload single or multiple photos to their feed. They can apply filters, tag other users, and add a location.

Any videos that you posted pre-2022 still live on in their original format — but you’ll notice they are now found under your Reels tab. That’s because, as of 2022, all new video posts are shared as Reels.

Stories are photos or videos that disappear after 24 hours. They offer various interactive features like polls, questions, and music. Users can also highlight stories on their profile to keep them visible beyond 24 hours.

Reels: Inspired by TikTok, Reels are short-form videos up to 90 seconds long. They can be edited with various effects, music, and creative tools. Reels have a dedicated tab on the user's profile and are showcased in the explore section for broader visibility.

Users can broadcast live videos to their followers. Live sessions are great for real-time interaction, Q&As, and spontaneous content. Live videos can also be saved and shared as IGTV videos after the broadcast ends.

Carousel posts let you share multiple photos or videos in a single post, allowing followers to swipe through and experience your story or showcase in more detail.

These are standard ads featuring a single photo. They appear in users' feeds and can be used to showcase products, services, or brands. They can include a call-to-action button like "Learn More" or "Shop Now."

Similar to photo ads but with video content. They can be up to 60 seconds long and play automatically in users' feeds. Video ads are effective for storytelling or showcasing products in action.

These ads allow users to swipe through a series of images or videos in a single ad. Carousel ads are ideal for highlighting multiple products, showcasing different features of a single product, or telling a brand story in chapters.

Full-screen vertical ads that appear between users' Stories. They're a great way to reach viewers in a more immersive way. Advertisers can use images or videos up to 15 seconds long, and users can swipe up on the ad to follow a link.

As IGTV is Instagram's platform for longer videos, advertisers can place ads in this format. IGTV ads appear when users watch IGTV videos from creators' channels.

These are full-screen, vertical ads that appear between individual Reels. Similar to Stories, they can be up to 30 seconds long and are designed to blend in with the content of Reels.

These ads appear in the Explore section where users discover new content aligned with their interests. The ads can be a powerful way to reach people who are in the mindset of discovering new products, services, or brands.

Shopping Ads: These ads allow businesses to showcase their products directly through Instagram posts. Users can tap on these ads to learn more about the products and purchase them directly through Instagram's shopping feature.

Collection ads combine videos or images with product catalogs. When users tap on these ads, they're taken to an Instant Experience (a full-screen landing page) where they can browse and purchase products.

Businesses can sponsor posts from influencers or other users, turning their organic content into ads. This is part of Instagram's influencer marketing, where businesses can leverage the credibility and audience of popular Instagram users.

Businesses can tag products in their posts, just like tagging a person. When users tap on these tags, they see more details about the product and have an option to purchase it directly within the app.

Similar to shoppable posts, businesses can tag products in their Stories. When viewers tap on these product stickers, they can see more information or make a purchase.

This feature allows users to buy products directly on Instagram without leaving the app. Users can pay using Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal.

Brands and creators can sell products during a live broadcast. Viewers can shop the featured products in real-time, creating an interactive shopping experience.

This feature allows users to shop directly from creators' posts. Creators can tag products from the brands they're working with, making it easy for followers to shop the products they recommend.

Brands can create and share collections of their products. Users can browse these collections to find products they are interested in and purchase them directly through Instagram.

Businesses can create ads that include product tags. This makes it easy for users to shop products directly from ads they find engaging.

The Instagram Storefront organizes products into collections and detailed product pages, providing users with an integrated shopping experience.

Instagram Subscriptions allow creators to monetise by offering exclusive content and benefits to their most engaged followers at a monthly fee. Followers can subscribe through an in-app purchase on their mobile device.

In the future Meta will offer people in the EU, EEA and Switzerland the choice to pay a monthly subscription to use Facebook and Instagram without any ads. They can alternatively continue to use these services for free while seeing ads that are relevant to them.

Primary focus on text-based posts, allowing users to share updates, thoughts, and stories in a short written format. Usera can also add links, photos, and videos to their posts, enhancing the text-based conversations and providing a richer context.

Lets users engage in public discussions, providing a platform for interactive dialogues and community engagement

Threads supports video posts of up to 5 minutes, allowing for longer content and more in-depth storytelling.

Links in posts provide direct access to external content or resources, enhancing engagement options for users.

Photos can be shared as individual posts, offering a straightforward way to connect with audiences visually.

Businesses do not currently have the option to purchase ad space on Threads, however, advertising is inevitable and is likely set to become a significant player in Threads' overall revenue.

Threads, being a text app developed by Instagram, does not have direct shopping features.

It is more focused on communication and may support businesses in customer engagement rather than direct sale

Being a new text app by Meta, Threads does not have a subscription model as it focuses more on communication and text sharing.

Text posts, allowing up to 280 characters of text or image/video/GIF posts. Users can share thoughts, information, links, and/or up to four images, videos that are 2 minutes and 20 seconds or less in length (4 hours if uploaded on iOS)

Users can create polls within their posts. Polls can have up to four answer options and can last between 5 minutes and 7 days.

Users can create a series of connected posts (a thread) to provide additional context, update on a situation, or tell a longer story. This is done by replying to one's own post.

Users can repost others' content to share it with their followers. A mention allows the user to include their own message along with the reposted content.

X supports longer posts of up to 25,000 characters, allowing for in-depth content sharing and extended engagement.

Live Video lets users broadcast in real-time, fostering direct interaction and instant engagement with audiences.

Image Ads allow brands to share visually engaging content, ideal for capturing attention quickly within the X feed.

Video Ads offer an immersive format for storytelling and can increase engagement through dynamic content.

Text Ads use concise messaging to reach audiences directly, making them effective for conveying key points quickly.

This program pairs pre-roll or mid-roll video ads with premium video content from X's content partners. It allows advertisers to align their brand with relevant and engaging content.

This ad product ensures that an advertiser's brand is the first thing users see when they log in to X. It includes the "First View" to dominate the top ad slot in timelines for 24 hours and the "Trend Takeover" to own the Explore tab.

Carousel Ads on X allow advertisers to include multiple images or videos in a single ad. Users can swipe through the carousel to see additional content, making it a good option for showcasing multiple products or telling a brand story.

Twitter does not have a built-in shopping platform like Facebook or Instagram.

However, businesses can use Twitter to promote products, share links to their online stores, and engage with customers.

Twitter offers Twitter Blue, a subscription service providing additional features like an undo tweet button, reader mode, and customization options.

X Premium offers multiple subscription tiers, providing enhanced features, visibility, and perks based on the selected plan.

Users can record videos up to 10 minutes long (60 minutes if uploaded), add music, effects, text, and filters, and then share them with their followers and the wider TikTok community.

Duets allow users to create content alongside another user's video. It splits the screen in two, with the original video on one side and the user's video on the other.

Stitch lets users clip and integrate scenes from another user's video into their own.

Users with 1,000 or more followers can go live, interacting with their audience in real time. This feature is used for Q&A sessions, live performances, or just casual conversations.

Add Yours: allows you to interact with others on TikTok through a prompt that you can add to your video or respond to.

Similar to Instagram or Snapchat, TikTok Stories allow users to post content that disappears after 24 hours.

TikTok’s Text Posts feature allows users to share text-based content, offering a new way to connect with audiences beyond video.

Photo posts let users share single images, giving an alternative visual format for expressing ideas and engaging followers.

Live Photo posts combine photo and video elements, offering an interactive visual experience within the TikTok feed.

In-feed Video ads appear within the main TikTok feed, including options like TopView and Branded Mission, providing high visibility to engage viewers.

Interactive ads, such as Playable and Carousel ads, encourage engagement directly within the TikTok feed, enhancing user interaction with brands.

Non-feed placements cover Search Ads, Messaging Ads, and options like Pangle, enabling brands to reach users beyond the main feed.

Interactive enhancements include add-ons and Branded Effects, allowing brands to personalize ads and create engaging user experiences.

Industry-specific ad solutions, like Showtimes and E-commerce, are tailored to drive engagement and conversions for targeted sectors.

a one-stop E-commerce solution for driving sales and brand growth on TikTok. TikTok Shop allows sellers to sell products directly on TikTok through in-feed videos, LIVES, and the Showcase tab.

Product Showcase is a feature that allows customers to shop directly from a seller's or a creator's account. It displays a shopping bag icon on the profile page of a TikTok account. Customers can browse products and shop brands or creator-listed products in just a few taps.

Shop Ads promote products directly within the app, helping brands reach customers and drive purchases through TikTok.

LIVE subscriptions are exclusive to live videos, providing benefits for creators and subscribers. While creators can earn money through their videos, subscribers can access exclusive content and receive a badge. This badge will appear next to a subscriber's TikTok handle during the creator's live stream.

The Creator Subscription option allows fans to support their favorite creators through exclusive subscription content and perks.

Users upload pre-recorded videos, which can range from a few seconds to several hours long. These videos can be edited, include various effects, and are accessible on the user's channel.

Shorts are YouTube's answer to the rise of short-form content popularized by platforms like TikTok. These are vertical videos up to 60 seconds long, designed for quick, mobile-friendly viewing. Shorts often get promoted in a dedicated section on the YouTube mobile app.

Users can broadcast live to their audience, which is a great way to interact in real-time. These live streams can later be saved as videos on the channel. Live streaming is used for events, Q&A sessions, gaming, and more.

This feature allows creators to upload a video and schedule it to go live at a specific time, turning the first viewing into a communal event. It includes a live chat feature where viewers can interact as the video plays for the first time.

Similar to Instagram or Snapchat Stories, YouTube Stories are short, mobile-only videos that disappear after 7 days. They're used for casual updates and to engage with the audience in a more informal way.

This feature lets creators engage with their audience through text, images, polls, or GIFs. Community posts are a way to keep the audience updated and involved, even when not posting regular videos. However, this feature is typically only available to channels with a certain number of subscribers.

While not a 'post' in the traditional sense, playlists allow creators to organize and curate their videos (or others' videos) into a series or collection, making it easier for viewers to find related content.

Skippable ads play before, during, or after a video and allow viewers to skip after five seconds, balancing ad exposure with viewer experience.

Non-skippable ads require viewers to watch the entire ad, ensuring maximum exposure and message delivery.

Bumper ads are six-second, non-skippable ads designed for quick brand awareness and memorable impressions.

Shorts ads run within YouTube’s Shorts feed, enabling brands to reach users through short-form, vertical video content.

Mid-roll ads are placed within longer videos, with default settings that automatically insert ads at optimal breaks.

Ads outside the video player appear alongside videos, offering additional exposure without interrupting content.

Back-to-back ads play two ads consecutively, giving brands more space to convey messages while minimizing disruptions.

Creators can tag products featured in their videos. These tags allow viewers to see a list of featured products and click through to learn more or make a purchase directly.

YouTube has been experimenting with an integrated shopping platform that allows viewers to purchase products directly through YouTube. This can include a dedicated shopping page or links within videos and video descriptions.

YouTube offers shoppable ad formats, where advertisers can include product images and links within their video ads. This makes it easier for viewers to click through and purchase products they see in ads.

Taking a page from platforms like Taobao in China, YouTube has been exploring live stream shopping events. During these events, creators can showcase and sell products in real-time, with viewers having the ability to purchase products directly through the live stream interface.

YouTube provides a "merchandise shelf" feature for eligible creators, which allows them to showcase and sell their merchandise directly below their videos. This is particularly popular among creators with a large fan base.

As YouTube develops its Shorts feature to compete with TikTok, there's potential for integrating shopping features into this short-form content in the future.

Shopping Collections allow creators to group and display products directly on their channel, making shopping easier for viewers.

The Affiliate Hub features promos and offers, giving creators tools to promote products and earn commissions.

Product tagging lets creators add links to products in multiple videos simultaneously, streamlining the shopping experience.

Creators can connect their Fourthwall shop, enabling viewers to browse and purchase products directly from the channel.

This is a paid subscription service that offers an ad-free experience across all of YouTube, including videos, music, and gaming. Subscribers also get access to background play (where videos continue to play when the app is not in the foreground) and offline viewing. Additionally, YouTube Premium includes a subscription to YouTube Music Premium.

YouTube Premium Lite offers an ad-free viewing experience across YouTube’s main content, excluding offline or background play.

Focused solely on music, this subscription offers an ad-free music listening experience, offline playback, and background play. It's included in the YouTube Premium subscription but is also available as a standalone service for those primarily interested in music.

Individual YouTube channels can offer paid memberships to their viewers. Members typically get various perks like exclusive badges, emojis, members-only videos, live chats, and other content. The specific offerings depend on the creator and the membership levels they set up.

This is a subscription service that offers live streaming of over 85 television networks, including local and national channels. It's geared towards users looking to replace traditional cable or satellite subscriptions. YouTube TV also offers unlimited cloud DVR storage.

The core feature of Twitch, where broadcasters can stream live content to their audience. This is primarily used for live gaming, but also includes music performances, talk shows, art creation, and more.

After a live stream ends, it can be saved as a video on demand (VOD) for viewers to watch later. Creators can also upload pre-recorded videos. These are especially useful for viewers who missed the live broadcast or want to revisit content.

Viewers and streamers can create short clips (up to 60 seconds) from live streams or VODs. Clips are a great way to capture and share highlights or memorable moments from streams.

This feature allows creators to launch a pre-recorded video as a live event, complete with a countdown and chat. It's a way to create a live viewing experience around content that was created ahead of time.

Streamers can schedule previously streamed content to play again at a designated time. This gives viewers a chance to watch content they may have missed and offers additional engagement opportunities for the streamer.

Users can host another channel's live broadcast on their own channel. This is used for cross-promotion and to keep content running on your channel even when you're not live.

At the end of a live stream, streamers can "raid" another live channel, directing all viewers to the raided channel. This is a community feature to support and introduce your audience to other streamers.

Squad Stream: This feature allows up to four creators to stream together in a single view. Viewers can watch all streams at once and switch between chat rooms, making it great for collaborative content and events.

Twitch Stories allow users to share short, temporary content with their followers, offering a more casual and interactive way to engage with the community.

Pre-roll ads play before a stream starts, providing brands with the opportunity to reach viewers as they begin watching content.

Mid-roll ads appear during a stream, allowing brands to capture attention at optimal moments while viewers are engaged with live content.

Homepage Carousel ads rotate through a series of images, giving brands multiple opportunities to present content directly on the Twitch homepage.

Homepage Headliner ads feature prominently on the Twitch homepage, offering high-visibility exposure to a broad audience.

Medium Rectangle ads are displayed on the Twitch platform, providing a balanced visual format for both desktop and mobile users.

Stream Display ads are shown alongside live streams, giving brands visibility while viewers interact with content.

Streamables Ads are video ads that can be displayed during a stream, offering a dynamic and engaging way for brands to connect with audiences.

Super Leaderboard ads occupy the top of the Twitch page, ensuring high visibility and engagement opportunities for brands.

Twitch Premium Video Ads appear in premium content and can be targeted to users who have opted for ad-free viewing, ensuring exclusivity.

Bits are a virtual good that viewers can buy and use to cheer in chat, showing support for streamers. When viewers use Bits in chat messages, it not only highlights the message but also gives a financial reward to the streamer.

Viewers can subscribe to a streamer's channel to show their support. Subscriptions come in different tiers, offering various benefits like ad-free viewing, exclusive chat privileges, and custom emotes. A portion of the subscription fee goes to the streamer, providing them with a source of income.

Some streamers set up their own merchandise stores through Twitch or third-party platforms. Viewers can buy branded merchandise like t-shirts, hats, or mugs to support their favorite streamers.

Streamers can use affiliate links or dedicated panels below their stream to promote products or services. When viewers click on these links and make a purchase, the streamer earns a commission.

Certain interactive extensions allow streamers to showcase products on their stream. Viewers can browse and even purchase these products without having to leave the Twitch platform.

For streams focused on gaming, Twitch offers features where viewers can purchase games or in-game content directly through the platform. Streamers can receive a share of the revenue from sales made through their channel.

Viewers can subscribe to a streamer's channel to support them on a monthly basis. Twitch offers different subscription tiers:

Tier 1: The basic subscription level, offering access to channel-specific emotes, ad-free viewing (depending on the streamer's settings), and other benefits designated by the streamer.

Tier 2: Includes all the benefits of Tier 1, along with additional emotes and potentially other perks set by the streamer.

Tier 3: The highest subscription level, offering all the benefits of the previous tiers plus more emotes and exclusive perks.

Users with an Amazon Prime subscription automatically get Twitch Prime as a part of their benefits. Twitch Prime includes one free channel subscription per month, exclusive in-game content, and all the benefits of a regular subscription like ad-free viewing and channel emotes.

Viewers can purchase subscriptions as gifts for other users. This can be done for specific individuals or as a community gift, which Twitch will distribute to active viewers in the chat.

Twitch offers the option to subscribe to a channel for several months in advance. This provides the streamer with a more stable income and saves the viewer the hassle of monthly renewals.

While not directly a channel subscription, Twitch Turbo is a platform-wide subscription that gives users site-wide benefits like ad-free viewing across all channels, extended broadcast storage, and exclusive chat badges.

Sub-Only Perks offer exclusive benefits to subscribers, such as access to special content, chat features, and badges, enhancing the viewer experience.

A Snap is a photo or video users send through the app to one or more of their friends. A video snap can be up to 60 seconds long. Snaps disappear after they are viewed.

A Story is a collection of Snaps put together to create a narrative. Stories are visible to friends for 24 hours.

This feature shows a user’s location on a map in real-time to their friends. Users can also see Snaps submitted by others around the world.

This is a feature where users can view content from media outlets, brands, and celebrities, which is more produced and curated compared to personal Snaps and Stories.

Spotlight showcases the best of Snapchat, similar to TikTok or Instagram's Reels. It's a way to get content seen by a broader audience and not just friends or followers.

This is a personal collection of Snaps and Stories that users can choose to save and view or send to friends at any time.

These are fun overlays for Snaps that can change the user’s appearance or their environment. Filters are static, while Lenses can include interactive features and motion effects.

Snapchat also allows for direct messaging with friends, which includes text, Snaps, Bitmoji stickers, and more. Messages also disappear after they are viewed.

These are full-screen vertical video ads that appear in between Stories or Snapchat content. They can be up to 3 minutes long, though shorter ads are usually more effective. Users can swipe up on these ads to be taken to a website, app, video, AR Lens, or piece of content.

These ads appear in the Discover section and allow brands to tell a deeper story. They consist of a series of 3-20 Snaps that users can tap through to view. Story Ads are ideal for narrative and multi-part content.

These allow businesses to showcase a series of products, giving users the chance to browse and buy. When a user taps on a product, they're taken directly to the website to learn more or make a purchase.

These are non-skippable video ads that appear in Snapchat's curated content. They're up to 6 seconds long and are designed for maximum impact and brand awareness.

AR Lenses allow brands to create interactive augmented reality experiences, enabling users to engage with products in a playful way.

AR Filters let brands add interactive elements to users' Snaps, helping enhance brand visibility through user-generated content.

These are augmented reality lenses that users can interact with. Businesses can create lenses that allow users to "try on" or visualize products. For example, users can see how a pair of glasses might look on their face or how a piece of furniture might fit in their room.

This is Snapchat's own merchandise store where users can buy Snapchat-branded items. It's a direct way for Snapchat to engage with its users through e-commerce.

Brands can upload their product catalogs to Snapchat. This allows them to create dynamic shopping ads that are automatically updated with the latest products and prices.

This is a shopping section within the Discover page where users can browse and purchase products from various brands. It offers limited-time deals and exclusive offers, encouraging users to make quick purchases.

In certain ads or stories, users can swipe up to directly link to a product page on the brand's website. This feature is designed to make the transition from viewing to purchasing as seamless as possible.

Snapchat has a feature where users can use their camera to scan a product or barcode, which then brings up shopping links for that product or similar items.

Public Profiles enable businesses to showcase products, share content, and engage followers directly on Snapchat, creating a branded presence.

Snapchat offers a subscription feature known as "Snapchat+." This is a premium subscription service providing users with exclusive, experimental, and pre-release features.