Even though social media came into existence a couple of decades ago, it has dramatically changed how people communicate, access information, and document and share their lives. From the first tweet to viral TikTik dances, these digital phenomena are the firsts of the internet. Glory Casino apk is one such phenomena too, that you just can’t miss.
This article looks back at the most shocking and important firsts of social media and attempts to recontextualize their significance then and their importance now.
The First Tweet (2006)
On March 21 2006, co founder of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, made the first ever tweet and it read,
“just setting up my twttr.”
Although the content was banal, the tweet marked the first step of microblogging, a new form of communication, coined 140 characters and less communicative strides.
👉 Why it matters: Dorsey’s tweet was the genesis of a platform that has had monumental impacts on politics, pop culture and the world of journalism. Even though it has been nearly two decades since it was posted and Threads, a new platform has been dominating the communication sphere, the tweet is still considered legendary.
The First Facebook Post (2004)
Mark Zuckerberg was able to launch The Facebook, which he shared with a few people from Harvard University in 2004. His first post was to share it with everyone and inform people that he had created the platform.
- Early exclusivity: At first it was only available to students from Ivy League universities.
- Cultural shift: When it was made available to the public in 2006, it transformed the way people interacted on the web.
👉 What was the significance: Social networking began with this shift, influencing connections and friendships in the digital space.
The First Viral YouTube Video (2005)
The first video on “YouTube” was uploaded in the same year the application was created and it was titled “Me at the zoo” by one of the founders Jawed Karim.
- An 18-second video where he stands in front of the elephants and does nothing but talk about them.
- No special lighting; no edits; no effects.
👉What was the significance: Even with the humble beginnings, the video propelled YouTube into the forefront of video sharing platforms, an application that houses billions of videos and just as many hours of content.
The First Instagram Post (2010)
Instagram’s first post was made by the co-founder Kevin Systrom, that featured the dog and a taco vending truck.
- It showcased the relaxed premise that Instagram adheres to, which is focusing on casual, day to day visuals.
- Transformation: From square pictures with filters to the ability to upload videos and shop on the application.
👉What was the significance: Beyond the casual dog photo is one of the biggest applications to date. It has drastically influenced the visual world, the aesthetics, fashion, and the influencer world.
The First Trend to Go Viral on TikTok (2018)
The year 2018 first brought attention to TikTok by merging with Musical.ly. The first viral hit was The Lip Sync Challenge and then the Renegade dance.
- User-driven Content: TikTok preferred realness and spontaneity to the highly polished nature of YouTube videos.
- Worldwide Reach: Trends spread from continent to continent in a matter of days.
👉 What is the importance: it expanded the definition of viral and made short videos the new king of content.
The First Threads Surge (2023)
Threads became an app that grew faster than any other app in the world the moment Meta released it in July 2023.
- In 5 days Threads amassed 100 million users and became the fastest growing app in the world.
- The first surge of content included everything from memes to celebrities supporting the app.
- Threads is seen as a positive community compared to what Twitter/X has turned into.
👉 What is the importance: Threads in 2025 still has a growing user base and serves as an indication of where public conversations are shifting towards.
The First Social Media Campaign That Changed the World
Beyond single posts, some firsts transformed culture. One notable example is the #IceBucketChallenge (2014).
- Format: To promote awareness for ALS, people doused themselves in ice water.
- Results: More than 220 million dollars was raised all around the world.
- Legacy: Social media campaigns in the past seemed to have little effect, but proved that massive awareness could be brought forth from a world.
👍 Why it mattered: This was the first viral challenge with impact, inspiring many others.
The First Social Media Live Stream
It’s hard to believe, but live video was first popularized on Periscope around 2015. Shortly after, Facebook Live and Instagram Live came onboard.
- The first big moments: concerts, protests, and other behind-the-scenes streams.
- Why it was loved: It added real reality to platforms that were previously over-Instagrammed.
🤔 Why it mattered: It proved that live video can instantly bond people across the world, fueling unmoderated engagement.
The First Influencer Unboxing Video
Unboxing videos have gained immense popularity, but the first wave was back in the late 2000’s on YouTube. The first unboxing that went viral was of an iPhone.
- Very Simple: Just a person opening a box.
- The Consequence: This transcended across the world and turned many common people into influencers.
🤔 Why it mattered: It mixed content and advertising, and thus ignited the influencer economy.
The First TikTok Shop Purchase (2022)
The first purchase on TikTok Shop started the age of social commerce at scale after turning content into commerce.
- Seamless purchase: Buy directly on the app.
- Partnership with creators: Influencers became sales people.
🤔 Why it mattered: It transformed the way people find and buy things by combining entertainment with e-commerce.
Why Social Media “Firsts” Stick With Us
Nostalgia isn’t the only reason why such milestones create sparks of interest. Each of those moments symbolize the transforming and evolution of the methods of interaction, construction, and consumption of content digitally.
It’s also the pinnacle of culture shift. It also matters when the shift occurs: the changing from text to video, from “likes” to “shares.”
When something works in the long run, it’s automatically incorporated in the normative structure. It goes without saying that the phenomena of watching live-streaming plus participating in viral challenges have now become the norm.
Culturally, these monumental steps are as vital as the first ever television broadcast or website. Such steps in social media, are the defining moments that have culture.
What Future Firsts Might Look Like
The future firsts, as platforms are changing, are likely to, include:
- The first viral AI campaign generated from an influencer.
- A metaverse concert with over 1 billion participants.
- The first social media campaign for a government election solely run on Threads or TikTok.
It goes without saying that social media history is still in progress and every social media platform along with its latest features have the potential for something significant to happen.
Final Thoughts
The very first tweet from Jack Dorsey and the first viral dance from TikTok are two ends of the poles. Social media culture is now rich with firsts. Such trivia though are extremely vital to the culture of social media as they define the evolution of technology and how it interacts with creativity and changes the interaction with the world.
The next “first” could take place at any time, and history has shown us that what seems small at the time could end up being the thing that makes history.