Everything You Need to Know About Social Media (Without Having to Call a Kid)

Although MSNBC news anchor Van Susteren (My Turn at the Bully Pulpit) falls short of the promise of her book’s title, she does an admirable job of covering the basics of a handful of social media channels in this practical guide for those who don’t know Instagram from LinkedIn. Restricting her coverage to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, and Twitter, Van Susteren dives into each platform, starting with the absolute basics such as setting up profiles and what to look for in the privacy settings. She includes a primer on hashtags and an easy overview on how to post videos and edit images, followed by tips on managing expectations and getting the most out of each channel. Short q&as with real-life users—such as Steve S., a small-business owner from New Jersey, who boasts 1,300 friends from around the world on Facebook, many of whom share his interest in barbershop-quartet singing—allow readers to make more informed choices and might even spur ideas for both home and work use. Van Susteren shares stories of her own struggles and foibles (such as accidentally emailing Al Gore a photo of her friend and tweeting before getting her facts straight), as well as the examples with more dire repercussions (such as a school administrator whose joke about snow days on social media cost her her job), with advice on how to avoid those same mistakes. Readers who are curious about (but are still hesitant to use) social media will likely find Van Susteren’s advice helpful. (Nov.)