Lesson 1 – History of Social Media

Lesson 1 – History of Social Media

Lesson 1: The History of Social Media

Social Media Existed Long Before Apps, iPhones, or Even Computers

When most people hear social media, they think of:

  • Apps
  • iPhones
  • Scrolling
  • Likes, comments, and algorithms

But social media doesn’t actually mean apps.
It means people communicating and sharing with other people.

And that’s been happening for a long time.

Let’s start with what you know—and rewind.

Social Media Today (What We Think of First)

Today, social media usually looks like:

  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • Snapchat
  • YouTube
  • X (Twitter)
  • LinkedIn

It’s visual. It’s mobile. It’s fast.

We:

  • Follow people
  • Post content
  • React instantly
  • Build audiences
  • Create personal brands

But here’s the key idea:

Social media is a behavior — not a device.

Phones didn’t create social media.
They just made it easier.

Before Apps: Social Media on Computers

Before social media lived in your pocket, it lived on desktops and laptops.

Platforms like:

  • Facebook (2004) – Real-name profiles and social graphs
  • MySpace (2003) – Custom pages, music, identity
  • LinkedIn (2003) – Professional networking
  • Twitter (2006) – Short-form, real-time conversation
  • YouTube (2005) – Social video before “creators” was a job

These platforms introduced things we still use today:

  • Profiles
  • Followers
  • Feeds
  • Shares
  • Comments

Still social.
Still media.
Just not mobile yet.

Before That: Social Media Without Images or Video

Go back a little further and social media didn’t look visual at all.

It was:

  • Text
  • Usernames
  • Conversations
  • Communities

Examples:

  • AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) – Real-time digital chat
  • ICQ – Status updates before “status updates”
  • Internet Relay Chat (IRC) – Group conversations
  • Usenet – Topic-based discussions
  • Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) – Early online communities

No photos.
No filters.
No feeds.

But people still:

  • Logged in
  • Chose usernames
  • Talked to strangers
  • Built communities

Sound familiar?

Before the Internet: Social Media Without Computers

Here’s where it gets interesting.

Social media existed before the internet.

Long-distance communication systems allowed people to:

  • Send messages
  • Share information
  • React to events
  • Connect across cities and countries

The most famous example?

Morse Code (1830s)

Morse Code allowed people to:

  • Communicate in real time
  • Share news
  • React quickly
  • Spread information rapidly

It wasn’t visual.
It wasn’t digital.
But it was social.

Before there was Twitter… there was Morse Code.

If you want to explore that idea further:

So What Is Social Media, Really?

Social media is:

  • Communication
  • Connection
  • Sharing
  • Community

The tools change.
The platforms change.
The devices change.

The behavior doesn’t.

That’s why understanding history matters—especially if you’re creating content for yourself, a brand, or an organization like Hennepin Technical College.

Why This Matters for You

If social media were just apps, your skills would expire every few years.

But because social media is about:

  • Human behavior
  • Storytelling
  • Communication
  • Design
  • Strategy

Your skills carry forward—even as platforms come and go.

This semester, we’ll focus on how to think, not just what to post.

Explore the Timeline Visually

If you want to see this evolution in action, check out these fun visuals:

Final Takeaway

Social media didn’t start with apps.
It didn’t start with phones.
It didn’t even start with computers.

It started with people wanting to connect.

And that hasn’t changed.

Curious what we’ll all be creating in class this semester?

Take a look at some sample student work from the past:

https://share.zight.com/YEuzwGWW

Let’s add your future work into this folder as well!

Discussion 1 – Favorite & Least Favorite Social Media Networks

*Submit Discussion into D2L

Let’s go way back here… Even MySpace back in the day… Think about all of the different social media networks and apps we’ve now seen over the years… What have been some of your favorites and why? What have been some of your least favorites and why? And fun stories worth mentioning?

Assignment 1A – Very First Piece of Social Media Content

*Submit Assignment into D2L

Let’s imagine Hennepin Technical College’s social media team has reached out for additional content support.

Your task:
Create a minimum of 4 unique social media content pieces.

Requirements:

  • At least 2 pieces must include an image and feature the HTC logo
  • At least 2 pieces must include written copy/text
  • Pieces may include both image + text if you choose

Content ideas (use or expand on these):

  • Students smiling or on campus
  • Sample student work
  • Learning Photoshop or design tools
  • Other HTC programs (ex: “Change Your Own Oil”)

You may design your content for any social platform. If you’re not sure where to start, try Canva:
https://www.canva.com/social-media/

Submit your work as a single ZIP file or upload each piece individually to D2L.
Be ready to share — your work will help spark creative ideas for the whole class.

Sample Student Work

Assignment 1B – Your Brand

*Submit Assignment into D2L

Each of us will build our own social media campaign this semester, all focused around one brand.

This brand can be something you create entirely from scratch, or an existing brand you want to re-imagine. The goal is to think like a real social media strategist and build consistent, connected content over time.

Brand ideas to get you started:

  • A family member or friend’s small business that needs branding or social content
  • A small business or freelance idea you’d like to start
  • A local brand that could benefit from stronger branding (add your own twist)
  • A re-creation of an existing brand with your own creative direction

Your task for now:
Submit a short paragraph describing the brand you’d like to move forward with and why you chose it. If the brand already has existing content (social media, website, logo, etc.), include a link.

Think about the brand’s audience and what the goal of your campaign might be (awareness, engagement, promotion, recruitment, etc.).

While this project is great for real-world experience and your portfolio—especially if you’re working with a real business—none of the content is required to be published online. That decision is completely up to you and the brand.

We’ll use these ideas as the foundation for our next steps when we meet next.

Sample Student Work

I want to start a CD/record shop that sells everything music. Sheet music, posters, merchandise, whatever. I’ve recently been getting super into music and the collection of it (specifically CDs), and I want to share that with everyone else. It doesn’t already exist yet, it’s just an idea for now.Download all files

Angelo

I am going to create social media posts for my mom’s business. She already has a logo and website, which showcases what she does (Holistic Wellness). She does not promote her business on social media and has no accounts for it.

Lisa

I think it would be cool to create a restaurant/sports bar where we only serve Appetizers. When people go to restaurants, everyone at the table wants to try an appetizer. Now they can just order as many as they want here while they drink beer and watch sports. 

Matthew

I run a tech and management company called TINUDA Incorporation. The website used to be https//tinuda.com but currently undergoing redevelopment. I actually am rebranding the whole establishment at the moment. That has been challenging due to change in environment and in terms of time. It would be nice to see if this assignment eventually results in the ideas, recreations, and rebranding I have been looking for. I believe googling tinuda inc should bring some social media results but it will probably have quite old contents of when the the company was still very new and the idea also new. It has not been a social media active company since after inception but more web/software-based.Download all files

Emmanuel

My step-mom works at a family business thats been around for almost 90 years. They only use Instagram as their social platform.Download all files

Paige

Initially I was thinking about doing Kyatchi, a sush restaurant in Minneapolis that i like a lot, but now i think i will be doing Trylon Cinema.

Trylon is a nonprofit  volunteer operated theater in South Minneapolis that plays a lot of older, foreign, and obscure films. Ive been going there often for the past 8 years or so. Its one of my favorite local places to go to, with a good community and atmosphere.

The majority of their social media activity is based around the upcoming films, including screenshots or pictures of posters, but there’s a lot that could be put together for original posts around their content

Nathan
This started as an idea… now it’s real. Start here.

Live Chat

Dustin has made it even easier to reach out—our live chat has moved to a text-based system so you can connect with him instantly from anywhere, not just from your browser.

Text “HTC” to 952-248-8883 to start a new conversation and get help right from your phone.

Looking forward to connecting!