[raverbashing]

The technology doesn't matter

From Wikipedia

"Social media are computer-mediated tools that allow people to create, share or exchange information, ideas, and pictures/videos in virtual communities and networks." (Someone added "Web 2.0" later there but it's immaterial. Well, HN lets you vote without refreshing the page, I guess that's "Web 2.0")

The content is driven by users, either by creating (FB, Twitter) and/or curating it (Pinterest AND HN) -> Social Media

[rayiner]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulletin_board_system ("A bulletin board system, or BBS, is a computer server running custom software that allows users to connect to the system using a terminal program. Once logged in, the user can perform functions such as uploading and downloading software and data, reading news and bulletins, and exchanging messages with other users through email, public message boards, and sometimes via direct chatting.")

HN is actually a fairly primitive BBS running over TCP/IP.

[amyjess]

I'd argue that the BBS is the earliest form of social media (or one of the earliest, at least).

[Torgo]

Finger?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_protocol

[raverbashing]

I know what a BBS is, I used them

(I'd say HN is not one, since we don't use a terminal program to access it and not using a modem over POTS)