This election year goes into the history books not only because it has produced America's first black president, but also because it became the first election in which a lot of people got to share the news with one another -- even as the TV and radio networks did.

On sites from YouTube to Flickr, from Facebook to Twitter people were able to swap thoughts, sounds and images of Election Night with each others. Some featured images as simple as those swiped off TV screens. Others included the various celebrations shortly after the polls closed in the West and Obama was declared the winner.

One YouTube user showed himself toasting the Obama win by gulping down a 2-liter bottle of soda. And in Obama's unofficial Second Life headquarters, many avatars couldn't get in because the digital gathering place had reached maximum capacity.