Smash That Like Button!

The HOT ROD community has evolved over the past 75 years. How does HOT ROD contend with the impact of today's social media platforms?

- KRUGER KIRSTON & CY SOLIMAN

By this time everyone has heard of social media and most people are on at least one social networking site. Maybe you don't have an Instagram account, or you fall into the "never TikTok" category, but it's probably safe to say you have a Facebook account. Nevertheless, social media has found its way into our daily lives and is more than likely here to stay. Where did it start? Myspace, right? That social network did play an important role in creating awareness for customizable profiles with shareable video features, but technically Friendster was one of the first proper social networks. Launching in 2002, it predated Myspace by two years.

By now, brands with more current awareness have probably crossed your mind, so let's continue with the journey back in time to 2004 when Facebook first launched. It was not considered the most popular social media platform until 2008. YouTube launched in 2005, then Twitter in 2006, followed by Instagram in 2010. With the history lesson complete, it's time to ask the question: What is social media? According to Wikipedia, "Social media are interactive technologies that facilitate the creation and sharing of information, ideas, interests, and other forms of expression through virtual communities and networks." In other words, people can share their experiences, media, or chat from anywhere in the world, which according to Global Statistics, now tops 270 million active users in the United States alone. Naturally, this gave rise to the wide adoption of social use for brand marketing, with every company attempting to align their brand with the next big viral moment.