How does your social media display on tablets, smartphones?
| Author | Jensen, Amanda |
| Position | SOCIAL MEDIA |
YOU'VE JUST JOINED A NEW SOCIAL SITE (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, YouTube, etc.). You've spent hours creating the perfect cover or header image to fit the space and represent your brand just right. You think you're good to go. Then you take a look from your smartphone or tablet, and it all comes crumbling down. What you see there is completely different than what you see on your desktop computer.
The ever-increasing amount of mobile and tablet-based traffic has led to changes in how sites are displayed across devices. According to the corn-Score Media Metrix Multi-Platform Report, 60 percent of time spent on digital media today is on a mobile device, up from 50 percent in 2013. Even more importantly, the report states that 71 percent of social networking is done from a mobile device. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and YouTube have all made their sites responsive, meaning that they automatically determine what device you're on and adapt to fit it.
So what does this mean for you? It means that you need to be aware that people will be viewing your social sites primarily from smartphones and tablets. It also means that it is imperative to pay attention to how your social sites look on all devices, not just your desktop computer. Below is a breakdown of how the visual experience differs among devices and what you need to be aware of.
Facebook has recently made changes to the way cover photos display on smartphones, and it now only shows the middle of the cover photo. Roughly 150 pixels are cut off on each side. The icon, page name and page category also move up to sit on the cover photo, further obscuring any text or important details. There are no obstructive changes to the cover photo on a tablet; however, there are even fewer buttons covering it, making it a cleaner view.
Twitter recently changed the layout of its platform, eliminating the background and enlarging the header image. The image stays intact and translates well on smartphones. However, tablets are another story altogether. Both the left and right sides are cut off, and the icon, account name, handle and "about" copy all move up to sit on the header image, further complicating matters.
LinkedIn keeps it simple on smart-phones: The cover photo doesn't appear at all. On tablets, you'll lose the bottom third of the cover photo, so it's best avoid having text or other key elements in that area.
Google+
The scaling is by far the most...
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