Here is a good example of the soft sell of Socialism that's cynically targeting you and the reason you were confused:

https://www.reference.com/world-view/difference-between-socialism-communism-e1d6108cb2d94246

The primary difference between communism and socialism is that communism is a political system and socialism is chiefly an economic system. >Communism focuses on putting the working class in charge of society by having the government control the means of production, whereas socialism focuses on making sure that all individuals have their basic needs met.

Yeah, no it's not. The distinction is detailed in the post beneath (prior to) this one. Full stop.

Wikipedia is, of course, little better. A perfectly clear and concise definition fits into a single sentence. Here's Wikipedia's version of that sentence:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism

Socialism is a political, social and economic philosophy encompassing a range of economic and social systems characterised by social ownership[1][2][3] of the means of production[4][5][6][7] and workers' self-management of enterprises.[8][9] It includes the political theories and movements associated with such systems.[10] Social ownership can be public, collective, cooperative or of equity.[11] While no single definition encapsulates many types of socialism,[12] social ownership is the one common element.[1][13][14] It aims to circumvent the inefficiencies and crises traditionally associated with capital accumulation and the profit system in capitalism.[15][16][17][18]

Definitions matter. If you think you're advocating for Socialism, but you're not, then you're lending legitimacy to Socialism to all your friends who hear you and think "Socialism... huh..." .

In fact, that describes what's happened to you.

What people call Socialism and what is being sold as "Democratic Socialism" to make it more palatable, is Capitalism - private party ownership - with very very high rates of taxation and redistribution. This is what some people call the Nordic model.

Is Sweden socialist?

https://duckduckgo.com/html?q=is%20sweden%20socialist

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffreydorfman/2018/07/08/sorry-bernie-bros-but-nordic-countries-are-not-socialist/

and so on. This is correct.

Venezuela literally became a Socialist nation under its past two Presidents-For-Life. They have huge amounts of natural resources including oil. Now they're eating dogs. Now they're being visited by government Death Squads.

It's interesting to note that Hollywood, in the form of the Amazon series Jack Ryan, had to reverse reality by 180 degrees to keep the "Socialism is for the people, Capitalists are fascists" meme greased.

If you want to experience actual propaganda first hand, turn on your TV and watch Jack Ryan on Amazon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo4V3GaXFBY

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-jack-ryan-idUSKCN1VR2HT

https://thepeoplescube.com/peoples-blog/jack-ryan-in-season-2-makes-venezuela-socialist-again-t21029.html

https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/culture/amelia-hamilton/2019/11/05/jack-ryan-season-two-supporting-social-justice-candidate

https://www.creators.com/read/john-stossel/12/19/hollywood-socialism

https://www.intellectualtakeout.org/article/jack-ryan-gets-four-pinocchios-venezuela/

Calling redistributionist schemes Socialsim is more than just an error in nomenclature. It soothes fears of Socialism and makes it seem more familiar. Believe me, trash like Bernie Sanders are fully aware of this. Before they can implement REAL Socialsim, they have to take the sting out of the word, get Americans comfortable hearing it, fuzz a lot of distinctions, prepare the ground....

Want a conspiracy? Believe me the sites soft selling you their watered-down definition of Socialism are a part of a conspiracy of like minded individuals who are acutely aware of what they're doing and why. Communists and Socialists who work in unison towards their goal without explicitly coordinating have a name, a name they call themselves. Fellow Travelers.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fellow%20traveler