The world's first ever text message was sent 33 years ago - and it's not what you'd expect

On 3 December 1992, history was made as the first ever SMS text message was sent.

Now, over three decades on from the technological breakthrough, the contents of said text are going viral online once again.

For reference, the word 'texting' was only added to the dictionary in 2010, being that SMS (Short Message Service) texts were originally intended for customers to receive alerts from their provider, such as a notification of a new voicemail.

Not long after the signalling protocol was developed, however, tech bosses realised the potential in providing a communication gateway for fellow phone users, and by 1992, the first message - limited to just 160 characters - was sent.

Though SMS texts have since been guzumped by internet-based, encrypted messaging platforms like WhatsApp and iMessage, at the height of their popularity in 2012, a record 150 billion text messages were sent in the UK.

The contents of the message seemingly amused some readers (Getty Stock Image)

'But what exactly did the first message say?', I hear you ask. 'It must have been something truly pioneering!'

Well, sorry to burst your bubble - and you might disagree with us on this - but it's not.

The first ever text was sent directly from the British county of Berkshire, where Vodafone engineer Neil Papworth had been employed in the early 90s.

One of the chain's bosses, Richard Jarvis, had been at a Christmas party on the date in question. And with that in mind, Papworth wished him season's greetings - literally.

"Merry Christmas," the first ever message read.

Sadly, Papworth failed to receive a reply from his manager, who himself owned a new-to-the-market-at-the-time Orbitel 901, a device that weighed a staggering 2.1kg.

The first text was about Christmas (Getty Stock Image)

For reference, that's roughly the same weight as 12 standard iPhone 14s.

Reacting to the contents of the message after they went viral again, one X user joked: "And 33 years later i’m still waiting on a 'merry christmas' text back."

"At least it wasn’t 'u up?'," a second added.

Another continued: "Mariah texted this btw."

A fourth went on to tease: "Texting existed 33 years ago… some of you still can’t slide into a chat without failing spectacularly."