When I stared social media, I was young and did not know what to expect. There were a few things that I wish I had known before taking on the enormous responsibility of being on social media. As a young kid on the app, I was not very aware of the damage that social media could cause, so I found a few ways to make others aware before joining the social media world.

In any circumstance, it is crucial to know what you are signing up for; that is why my first thing to know before setting up a social media account is to read the terms of use. Every social media platform like Instagram or Facebook has a terms of use or terms of service that it tells you to read before finishing the signup process. Read over every single portion of it before you fully begin social media to know if this is something you are willing to commit to. If you are uncomfortable with anything listed in these terms and conditions, then social media may not be the right place for you.

My second piece of advice that I stumbled upon when researching is from Charles Crawford's article in Social Media Today takes it one platform at a time. If you are starting social media, do not try to take on as many platforms as possible at the beginning; otherwise, you might overwhelm yourself. Start slow with maybe an Instagram and/or Facebook to see how you feel. Instagram is a platform that I believe is a great place to start slow, it is where I started and stayed for a year, and I think it made my experience more positive. If I had started strong and set up as many platforms as possible, I might not have enjoyed social media as much because of the stress that comes with so many different accounts. Having one account can allow you to get acclimated to social media with less stress.

The third tip I have when it comes to starting social media is to remember that once you post it, it is possible that it is out there forever. I know that this is a phrase used a lot, and many people already know, but it is always important to be reminded of it. If you post something on social media, it is hard to take it back, especially with the number of platforms today. I have seen many celebrities' old posts now resurfacing something immature that they posted in the past. In an article by Molly Pike titled "Celebs whose old tweets came back to haunt them - from Chrissy Teigen to Zoella and Iggy Azalea" she writes about celebrities' tweets that have resurfaced and have caused them to get "cancelled" on social media talked about YouTuber Zoe Sugg, aka Zoella and her tweet from 2011 that said, "I find it funny when gay men spit... it's like they're trying to be a bit macho." Obviously, this tweet did not make Zoella look very good and slightly immature. Many other celebrities have dealt with situations likes these, even some with regards to racist comments. This shows that it is important to think through what you are posting on the internet very intently. Something that you post when you are young could come back to haunt you in the future.

My last tip would be finding your happy place on social media from the beginning. Most people go into social media with no real goal to start, and they end up losing themselves in the toxicity. If you want to make, more close and personal connections begin there as soon as you start because you will find a love for that as you continue. Suppose you want to learn more about editing and photography start following accounts that go along with that. Where you start may determine the rest of your experience, so it is important to know what you want from social media before getting too deep into a negative experience.

Social media has its ups and downs, but you could make your journey more positive if you keep these four important tips in mind. Make sure to follow the right people, post only what you know won't affect you in the future, know what you are getting into, and take it slow. Make social media a happier and healthier place for you, and if you ever find yourself unhappy, take a step back and reevaluate before continuing.