What is social Media When people think of social media they think of Facebook and Twitter because they are so popular However social media can encompass any kind of electronic communication that allows people to share information These include websites and applications or apps People use social media with their computers tablets and smartphones anywhere they are in the world 6
People also use social media sites to discuss topics that interest them For example the website Reddit allows people around the world to have conversations on everything from television shows and movies to politics and philosophy STEAM Fast Fact Social Media Boom The number of people using social media in the United States grew from just seven percent of the population in 2005 to an amazing 65 percent by 2015 7
For young people social media has always been around However much of it did not exist just a decade ago STEAM Spotlight First Social Media Site The very fi rst social media site was Six Degrees Created in 1997 it allowed people to share photos and make friends online Between 2006 and 2008 new technologies websites products and apps came on the market that led to social media’s rise the public 2006 Facebook opened to 2006 Twitter launched 2007 The fi rst Apple iPhone became available The fi rst iPhone was released The fi rst iPhone was released June 29 2007 Facebook’s color scheme is blue and white because its co-founder Mark Zuckerberg is red-green color blind Blue is the color he sees best 8
the Kindle reader 2007 Amazon released 2008 Google launched phone system the Android mobile Android was fi rst developed as a platform for digital cameras The founders later shifted their focus to smartphones Amazon Kindle’s social media network allows readers to connect and share their thoughts about books 9
