This document discusses the history and rise of social media. It describes how the term "Web 2.0" emerged in the early 2000s to represent a shift from static websites to more interactive experiences allowing user participation and user-generated content. Blogs in particular exemplified this shift, allowing individuals to easily publish online diaries. While initially viewed with skepticism, news organizations increasingly adopted social media tools in the late 2000s, with many accepting user comments, photos and articles.