Dear Simon,
My kids are always talking about “updating their status” from their mobile phone. What do they mean?
Sue, via email on 11 August 2010
Your kids are simply referring to staying in contact with friends by accessing social networking websites, like Facebook, from mobile phones.
The social networking craze is already in full swing on mobile phones but if you want to catch up, it’s easy.
Social networks are simply websites where you interact with friends and family by sending them messages, pictures and more.
Mobile phones with 3G or wi-fi wireless internet support access these websites through dedicated applications (apps), meaning you can stay socially connected without switching on a PC.
The most popular social networking apps for mobile phones are Facebook and Twitter, though the two are very different.
The Facebook app offers most of the official website’s features, including:
The Facbook app comes pre-installed on some mobile phones (usually smartphones). The app’s also free to download from app stores, such as the iPhone App Store and Android Market.
Twitter’s unique selling point is its simplicity because you have just 140 characters with which to say whatever you like.
You follow people (friends, usually) and they can follow you on Twitter. Followers can read your 140 character messages - often referred to as “tweets”.
Many famous people use Twitter and you’ll be able to follow them - you could respond to a tweet by actor/author Stephen Fry or Queen of Shops, Mary Portas, for example, and receive a personalised tweet back in response.
Twitter may soon also let you add photos to your tweets.
With so many social networking websites already available, and more launching all the time, it can be difficult to keep up-to-date if you use more than one.
Thankfully mobile phone apps are available which let you manage multiple social networks from within one app. Popular apps include Google Buzz, Gist and Bump.
All work slightly differently, but essentially let you write messages or post pictures which are then added to Twitter and Facebook simultaneously.