The document discusses the rise of social media and its impact. It began with the emergence of websites and blogging in the 1990s, which led to the development of hybrid media like The Huffington Post. Social media then empowered individuals to interact and share content online, changing jobs in fields like journalism and marketing. The document then covers several social media concepts and theories, such as how influence extends beyond politics into other areas, and how social media allows influence to be tracked through large amounts of data, though this raises legal and ethical issues.