"on social network" vs "on a social network"

Question

"on social network" vs "on a social network"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'On social network' is used when referring to social media platforms in general, while 'on a social network' is used when referring to a specific social media platform.

Last Updated: March 15, 2024

This phrase is used when talking about social media platforms collectively, without specifying a particular platform.

Examples:

She spends a lot of time on social network sites.
Information spreads quickly on social network platforms.

Alternatives:

on social media
on social networks
on social media platforms
on social media sites
on social media networks

This phrase is used when talking about a particular social media platform, such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Examples:

She posted the picture on a social network.
I saw that news article on a social network site.

Alternatives:

on a social media platform
on a social media site
on a social media network
on a specific social network
on a particular social media platform

Answer 1

on social network

This phrase is correct when referring to social media platforms in general.

Answer 2

on a social network

This phrase is correct when referring to a specific social media platform.

"on social network" vs "on a social network"

on social network

on a social network

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