There are several types of social media, and several services may fall into more than one category. Here are some examples of some of the more common varieties.
Social Networks
Social networks are designed to communicate and exchange opinions, ideas, and content with other users, often with people who have similar tastes and interests. Social networks such as Facebook and Twitter are examples. LinkedIn is a technical network that can also be called a social network.
Media Networks
Unlike social networks, which enable users to share and exchange raw thoughts and ideas, media networks focus on distributing content such as images and videos. This can be seen on Instagram and YouTube, for example. A YouTube user, for example, will upload a video, and other users will be able to "like," "dislike," or comment on it. A viewer can choose to "subscribe" to the creator if they enjoy the video enough to have new videos from that creator appear in their stream.
Discussion Networks
Posts that can ignite in-depth discussion among users are perfect for discussion networks like Reddit. Users can leave detailed responses in the comment section, and other users can respond to those comments directly, allowing discussions to grow and evolve naturally.
Review Networks
Yelp and TripAdvisor, for example, incorporate social media elements into consumer reviews of goods and services. As well as the companies being checked, users will communicate directly with those who leave feedback.