This document provides an overview of the history and fundamentals of social media. It discusses some key early developments like the ARPANET network in the 1960s, the creation of email in the 1970s, and the first social networks and blogs in the 1980s and 1990s. It then covers modern social media topics like microblogging, geo-location, and using social media for business. The document concludes by outlining five approaches for using social media: listening to social conversations, sparking conversations, distributing content, creating value for users, and using a test-and-learn approach to try new platforms and tactics.