Was Rubber Duck using social media in the 1970s?
– WARNING THIS POST MAY CONTAIN STORIES OF AN UNCOOL NATURE –
Social media is defined by Wikipedia as: “most often referring to activities that integrate technology, telecommunications and social interaction, and the construction of words, pictures, videos and audio.”
It is slightly embarrassing but way back in the early 1800s when I was a lad, I did happen to dabble with a few CB radios.
I was explaining my story to a colleague, when I realised this was actually one of the very earliest forms of social networking.
Here is my reasoning:
- CB’s had their own form of etiquette similar to Twitter and blogging
- Each user has their own username/handle
- CBs helped create groups (usually truckers) and get them together
- Users used them to arrange face-to-face meetings (eyeballs) using certain specific channels
- CBs were totally mobile services
- Users could accept or reject people by switching channels or using code
- Users actively shared information – in other words user generated content
By my reckoning CB radios were the first form of social networking, does anyone else have any other good examples?
At the height of CB fame the film Convoy was made – just in case you forgot the classic theme tune I have enclosed it below. Come on, I did warn you!