Talking about technology and social media these days? It's super important to know the right Spanish words. Let's take a look at some key terms and phrases that can help you understand and communicate better in these areas.

First, we’ll talk about basic tech vocabulary. Here are some important words you should know when chatting about gadgets and technology.

Ordenador / Computadora: This means "computer." People in Spain usually say "ordenador," while in many Latin American countries, "computadora" is more common.

Example:

• Tengo que revisar mi ordenador antes de salir.
  (I need to check my computer before going out.)

Móvil / Teléfono celular: In Spain, a mobile phone is called "móvil." In Latin America, they often say "teléfono celular."

Example:

• Estoy esperando un mensaje en mi móvil.
  (I am waiting for a message on my mobile phone.)

Redes sociales: This means "social media." It covers all the platforms where people can interact and share stuff.

Example:

• Pasé horas en las redes sociales ayer.
  (I spent hours on social media yesterday.)

Aplicación: This is how you say "app." It refers to software you use on phones or computers.

Example:

• He descargado una aplicación nueva para aprender idiomas.
  (I downloaded a new app to learn languages.)

Next, let’s look at some key social media terms that people use a lot today.

Publicar: This means "to post." You'll use this word a lot when talking about social media actions.

Example:

• Voy a publicar una foto de mis vacaciones.
  (I am going to post a picture from my vacation.)

Seguir: This means "to follow." It’s about keeping up with someone’s updates on social media.

Example:

• Me gusta seguir a mis amigos en Instagram.
  (I like to follow my friends on Instagram.)

Me gusta: This translates to "I like." It’s a way to show that you enjoy something on social media.

Example:

• Le di me gusta a su última publicación.
  (I liked her latest post.)

Compartir: This means "to share." It’s when you pass something on to others.

Example:

• Siempre comparto buenos artículos en mi página.
  (I always share good articles on my page.)

Understanding internet and technology terms is also really important. Here are some more words to know.

Navegar: This means "to browse." You’ll use it when you are looking around on the web.

Example:

• Estoy navegando por internet para encontrar información.
  (I am browsing the internet to find information.)

Banda ancha: This refers to "broadband." It's important for having a good internet connection.

Example:

• Necesitamos una conexión de banda ancha más rápida.
  (We need a faster broadband connection.)

Iniciar sesión / Cerrar sesión: These mean "to log in" and "to log out." You’ll use these when accessing your online accounts.

Example:

• Debo iniciar sesión para ver mis correos.
  (I need to log in to check my emails.)

Cargar: This means "to upload" (put content online) or "to charge" (for devices).

Example:

• Voy a cargar el video en mi canal de YouTube.
  (I am going to upload the video to my YouTube channel.)

It’s also important to know about online safety and digital manners. Here are some helpful phrases.

Privacidad: This means "privacy." It’s super important to think about what information you share online.

Example:

• Es importante proteger tu privacidad en las redes sociales.
  (It’s important to protect your privacy on social media.)

Ciberseguridad: This means "cybersecurity." It’s about protecting ourselves online.

Example:

• Debemos implementar medidas de ciberseguridad para proteger nuestra información.
  (We must implement cybersecurity measures to protect our information.)

Perfil: This means "profile." It refers to your personal account on social platforms.

Example:

• Actualicé mi perfil con nuevas fotos.
  (I updated my profile with new photos.)

Hacker: This word is the same in both English and Spanish. It means someone who uses technical skills to break into systems.

Example:

• Un hacker intentó robar mi información personal.
  (A hacker tried to steal my personal information.)

Now let’s go over some phrases you might use every day about technology.

¿Tienes Wi-Fi?: This is a popular question asking if there’s Wi-Fi available. It’s helpful when you’re visiting someone.

Example:

• ¿Tienes Wi-Fi en tu casa?
  (Do you have Wi-Fi at your house?)

¿Cuál es tu contraseña?: This means "What is your password?" You might ask this when sharing accounts.

Example:

• No puedo acceder; ¿cuál es tu contraseña?
  (I can’t access it; what is your password?)

Voy a hacer una videollamada: This means "I am going to make a video call." This is really common now.

Example:

• Esta tarde, voy a hacer una videollamada con mi familia.
  (This afternoon, I am going to make a video call with my family.)

¡Es viral!: This phrase means "It’s viral!" and refers to content that is spreading fast online.

Example:

• Ese video es viral, ha recibido millones de vistas.
  (That video is viral; it has received millions of views.)

Knowing these terms will help you join conversations about technology and social media in Spanish. Remember, language is always changing, and new words and phrases appear as things evolve.

To practice, try making your own sentences using the words we discussed. This will help you see how they fit into daily conversations. Here are a couple of examples to get you started:

• Me gusta seguir campañas de ciberseguridad en las redes sociales.
  (I like to follow cybersecurity campaigns on social media.)
• Quiero publicar un video mientras navego por internet sobre mis hobbies.
  (I want to post a video while I browse the internet about my hobbies.)

Create a personal list of these terms and add new ones as you discover them in your daily life, online or in chats. Engaging with Spanish-speaking environments—whether in forums, social media, or face-to-face—will help you improve your vocabulary and fluency in this exciting area of language that reflects our modern world.