Main social networking sites in different countries.

Social networking sites that provide an opportunity to learn about women's sex services.

The following are some of the most commonly used social networking platforms in South Korea. Each has its own characteristics and is popular for specific purposes and age groups.

1. KakaoTalk

Description: the most popular messenger application in South Korea and the de facto national SNS.

Functions:.

Sending and receiving messages

Voice and video calls

'Open chat' function (anonymous chat)

Linkage with mini-games and e-money (KakaoPay)

Features:.

There is also a 'Kakao Channel' used by companies and brands for marketing purposes.

2. Instagram

Description: very popular platform, especially among young people and celebrities.

Functions:.

Sharing of photos and videos

Reels (short videos)

Shopping function (selling and buying products)

Features:.

Visually attractive content is favoured and has a significant influence in the Korean beauty and fashion industry.

3. YouTube

Description: platform for watching and sharing video content.

Reasons for popularity:.

It is used in a wide range of genres in South Korea, including entertainment, education, cooking and game distribution.

'YouTube Shorts' is also popular among the younger generation.

4. Facebook

Description: very popular at one time, but now mainly among people in their 30s and 40s rather than younger generations.

Features:.

Active in communities and groups in South Korea and abroad.

Often used to promote local businesses and events.

5. Twitter (X)

Description: mainly used as a forum for discussing news and specific topics (K-pop, politics, trends, etc.).

Features:.

Particularly large fan base of Korean K-pop idols and dramas.

It has a strong real-time nature and is used to exchange reactions and opinions during events.

6. TikTok

Description: short video platform particularly popular among the youth generation.

Features:.

K-pop-related challenges and dance videos attract a large audience.

It has also become a trendsetter on beauty and lifestyle in Korea.

7. namer band

Description: A social networking platform exclusively for groups.

Features:.

Often used for internal communication in schools, companies and hobby clubs.

Specialises in closed communication.

8. clubhouse

Description: A voice-based social networking platform that became a hot topic at one time.

Features:.

Mostly dedicated to professional topics and discussions.

In South Korea, it is used by some professionals and creators.

In South Korea, these SNS are closely related to life, business and entertainment. SNSs (e.g. Twitter and Instagram) are particularly popular with K-pop's global fan base, who share information both domestically and internationally.

Unlike global platforms, most of the SNSs mainly used in China have developed independently in China. The following are some of the most common SNSs.

1. WeChat

Description: China's largest messaging and social platform.

Functions.

Chat, voice and video calls.

Moments (timeline posts)

Payment function (WeChat Pay)

Mini-programmes (app-like services)

Features:.

Widely used as a means of communication and electronic money, permeating all aspects of daily life.

2. Sina Weibo

Description: SNS equivalent to the Chinese version of Twitter.

Functions.

Posting of text, images and videos

Search for trends and hashtags.

Features.

Used by celebrities, politicians, companies, etc. Important source of news and entertainment information.

Mostly short text posts.

3. douyin

Description: Chinese version of TikTok, a short video platform.

Functions.

Posting and viewing of short videos.

Content creation using effects and music.

Features.

Overwhelmingly popular, especially among young people, and attracting attention as a trend-setting platform.

4. xiaohongshu

Description: SNS specialising in lifestyle and product reviews.

Functions:.

Posting of photos and videos.

Product reviews, make-up and travel guides.

Features.

Popular mainly among women in their 20s and 30s, with a wealth of fashion and beauty trend information.

Also active in introducing overseas products and brands.

5. kuaishou (快手, Kuaishou)

Description: Short video platform, second most popular after Douyin.

Features.

Video streaming and live-streaming.

Features.

It targets a different demographic from Douyin, being supported by rural residents and middle-aged and older people.

6. Bilibili (哔哩哔哩)

Description: A video-sharing website and service similar to Nico Nico Douga in Japan.

Features.

Viewing of animation, games and entertainment videos.

Bullet-point' function for displaying comments on videos.

Features:.

Popular among young people, attracting many otaku culture and game fans.

7. Zhihu

Description: A Q&A-style social networking website, equivalent to a Chinese version of Quora.

Functions:.

Sharing of knowledge and opinions

Long-form posts and discussions.

Features.

Used by people seeking professional information, with a focus on educational content and in-depth discussions.

8. tencent QQ

Description: Early Chinese chat app, still used by some segments of the population.

Functions.

Chat, voice calls.

Links with games and digital entertainment

Features.

Favoured mainly by young people and students.

9. red, also known as Redbook

Description: A social networking site for international product reviews and lifestyle.

Features.

Influencers are active in providing information on international travel, cosmetics and fashion.

Due to government regulations, international SNSs such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram cannot be used in China, so these domestic SNSs play an important role. WeChat and Douyin, in particular, have gone beyond mere SNSs and established themselves as indispensable platforms for daily life.

The most commonly used social networking sites in Europe and the USA share many of the same characteristics that are popular in the USA, but there are also some trends that are unique to Europe. The following is a list of popular social networking sites and their characteristics in Europe and the USA.

1. Facebook

Description: Major social networking site used by a wide range of age groups in Europe and the USA.

Usage scenarios:.

Keeping connected with family and friends

Event announcements and group activities

Promotion of local businesses.

Popular regions: particularly popular in the USA, UK and Germany.

2. Instagram

Description: SNS specialising in photo and video sharing.

Usage scenario:.

Trend transmission by young people and influencers.

Promotion of fashion, beauty, travel and food.

Popular regions: USA, France, Spain, Italy, etc.

3. twitter (X)

Description: Specialises in short-text posting and real-time information sharing.

Usage scenarios:.

Dissemination of information on politics, news, sports and entertainment.

Public discussion and exchange of views.

Popular regions: UK, USA, France.

4. LinkedIn

Description: Social networking site for professionals.

Usage scenarios:.

Job hunting, career development, sharing industry news.

Business networking

Popular regions: high usage across Europe and the US.

5 TikTok

Description: SNS specialising in short videos.

Usage scenario:.

Entertainment and trend transmission, especially among young people.

Marketing by brands and creators.

Popular regions: USA, UK, France, Spain, Germany.

6. YouTube

Description: Video-sharing website with extensive social networking functions.

Usage scenarios:.

Watching videos for entertainment, education and hobbies.

Interaction through commenting and live-streaming.

Popular regions: Widely used throughout Europe and the US.

7. Snapchat

Description: Features temporarily disappearing messages and photo sharing.

Usage scenarios:.

Daily life sharing by young people

Brand targeted advertising

Popular regions: USA, France.

8. Pinterest

Description: social networking site for sharing ideas and inspiration.

Usage scenarios:.

Searching for fashion, DIY, interior design and cooking ideas.

Product promotion

Popular regions: USA, UK, France.

9. reddit

Description: Community-based social networking site where discussions on specific topics are popular.

Usage scenario:.

Information gathering and discussion on niche hobbies and topics.

Discovery of trends.

Popular regions: USA, UK.

10. WhatsApp

Brief description: Widely used as a messaging app.

Usage scenario:.

Contact between individuals and groups.

Customer support for SMEs.

Popular regions: all of Europe (especially Germany, Spain, Italy, etc.), with increasing use in the USA.

11. discord

Description: Platform that started as a gaming community.

Usage scenario:.

Group chat for live gaming and hobbies.

Closed conversations in education and the workplace.

Popular regions: USA, UK.

12. BeReal

Description: A social network where people share a 'real moment' once a day.

Usage scenarios:.

Unprocessed sharing of everyday life.

Popular, especially among young people.

Popular regions: USA, UK, France.

Characteristics of social networking use in Europe and the USA

USA: Entertainment-oriented platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Europe: in addition to WhatsApp and Facebook-based communication tools, Instagram and TikTok are also popular among young people.