"The Story" - My Immersion in Social Media

In order to trace the path of my complete immerion in social media, let's set the "way back" machine for roughly 1998.

MY EARLIEST PERSONAL EXPOSURE

1998

Basically everyone had at least one email account myself included. However, this year generated a true turning point in the development of social digital communications. The program was called ICQ (I-seek-you) it allowed the users to communicate with each other in real-time but was constructed in a far more user-friendly interface than any previous system. To this day ICQ has continued to update its software and adapt versions for mobile devices as well; therefore, past users can still use their old account number to reactivate their list of contacts regardless of how long they've been off the system. Like most users, my ICQ usage began to dwindle after Microsoft released the earliest versions of MSN Messenger was released, although the principle functions of both programs were the same MSN surpassed ICQ in ease-of-use replacing it as the number one communicator for me (and most other people at the time).

THE FACEBOOK REVOLUTION

2004

After hearing classmates mentioning "facebook" this and "facebook" that I finally decided to look into it in early 2005. I was instantly hooked, by the end of the year I created a substantial size profile with my photos, information, messages and more. What captured my attention and drew me in the most was the brilliance of all the functions integrated into the interface. It provides a means to communicate; share photos, video, media; reach out and connect users all over the world through common interests...and so much more! I realize it's rather redundant to explain facebook to anyone reading this as you are likely all familiar with it so I will move on from here. Needless to say, Facebook did for the 21st century what online bulletin boards did for the 20th century.

PROMOTIONAL EXPOSURE THROUGH FACEBOOK AND MYSPACE

2007

In the interests of not having this become a singular document, view my YouTube video summary of this section.



For a detailed understanding of the promotional efforts I mentioned in the video, please look at the following sites:

VIEW the old Written In Red Myspace Page
VIEW/JOIN the Age of The Enemy Facebook group
VIEW/FOLLOW the Age of The Enemy Twitter feed

JUMPING FORWARD TO 2010!!

Please take the time to follow through the link posted on my personal Twitter feed, it will take you to the final discussion on these topics.