def verify_social_media_platform(platform_name: str) -> bool:
    """
    A helper function to make verifying social media platform strings easier

    Parameters
    ----------
    platform_name: str
        The name of the social media platform to be verified.
        Valid inputs are: 'f', 't', 'i', 'a'

    Returns
    ----------
    bool: Returns true if the provided social media platform is a valid social media platform

    """
    return bool(
        platform_name.lower() == "f"
        or platform_name.lower() == "t"
        or platform_name.lower() == "i"
        or platform_name.lower() == "a"
    )