If you’ve ever known the bittersweet pain of purchasing an iPhone only to hear the newer, better version will be released in upcoming days, then you already know the cold, hard fact of life: social media, like technology, is a fickle jerk.

Sometimes, the hashtag usage on Twitter (and Facebook, Instagram, Vine, Pinterest and just everywhere) feels like an Oprah giveaway, “A hashtag for you! And a hashtag for you! Here’s a hashtag, there’s a hashtag, everywhere a hashtag!”

Conversation is dead! Millennials have murdered the precious art that is social discussion. They hide behind their cell phones and computer screens. Those hooligan GenYers don’t know how to talk to one another. Society as we know it has crumbled.

Let’s face it. Social media has bred a language of its own. From LOL to NSFW (which is an important one to know, see below), communication on Twitter, and online in general, has become an overwhelming monster, especially for those who just don’t understand.

Creating powerful social media content requires more time and effort than most people realize. Before you cook up your content, it’s important to see what ingredients and tools you have to work with.