Social Media and Military Families

The ways in which we communicate have grown by leaps and bounds in the past several years. It seems like every day a new social networking site pops up, and nobody has embraced the culture of information sharing and keeping in touch like military families. Gone are the days of losing contact with friends from duty stations around the world, or only being able to connect with a deployed service member via a handwritten letter.

Having so many choices can also be confusing. Here are our recommendations on different ways military families can use some of the popular social networking sites:

Facebook is a great way to keep in touch with old friends and connect with new people and resources before a PCS move. Keep far away family members up to date with photos of the family or use the chat feature to talk in real time.

Twitter is perfect for those who want to keep up with the daily news in their community. Follow local businesses for deals and information or news sites for quick updates. Many military installations have a presence on Twitter and it can be a great way to keep up with activities in the community

LinkedIn is a wonderful way for military spouses who are looking for employment to network. Build an online resume, make connections, and have colleagues recommend your work. Join a group with similar interests and share tips, job opportunities, and conversation.

Pinterest is the hot new social networking site that allows its users to create personalized boards or collections of information from any website on the internet. For military families on the move, this is a great way organize ideas, recipes, and inspiration in one online home.

Those are just a few of the many sites available. Many military families use and love Skype, YouTube, Google+, blogs, Flickr, Tumblr, and more!

Join the National Military Family Association on the following social networks:

1. Facebook
2. Twitter
3. YouTube
4. Flickr
5. Pinterest

Don’t forget that military families are called to be judicious in their use of social media sites. Before getting started, or as a refresher, check out the resources below to make sure you’re keeping up with best OPSEC (Operations Security) and PERSEC (Personal Security) practices:

• Army Social Media Information and Handbook
• Navy Social Media Information and Directory
• Marine Corps Social Media Information and Handbook
• Air Force Social Media Information and Guide
• Coast Guard Social Media Outlets
• NOAA Social Media Information
• Blue Star Families Social Media Guide for Military Families