What Was the First True Social Media Network
Let'south accept a whistle-cease tour of the development of social media platforms. You can as well bank check outthis helpfulinfographic history of social media platforms' by Zenesys.
Why aresocial media platforms so pop?
Human beings are social creatures, we thrive on, and in fact need, social interactions tomaintain a healthy life and mind.
Social media taps into these key needs and so it should come up as no surprise that social media sites and social media apps are so popular today.
But there is more to them than that. Social media apps offer users some valuable features.
- They provide a platform to see new people and make friends across international borders.
- They let users to bring together groups of others who share their passions and interests.
- They are free to use (but as we all know "if there is no product to buy y'all are the product").
- Specialized forums or platforms provide a big network to potentially find a new job.
- Networks like Twitter have become a valuable way to become real-time (occasionally true) news. Often this data can be seen 'raw,' without any traditional media bias or opinion mixed in.
With the ascent in popularity of early social media platforms, it was only a matter of fourth dimension before business organisation took notice of the growing trend.
Savvy entrepreneurs quickly jumped on the wagon to promote themselves and their (or others') products, eventually evolving into the mass social media marketing manufacture nosotros are all familiar with today.
Businesses and private individuals accept seen the importance and reach of social media. Some have even managed to use it to make a pretty decent living.
1. Artifact to Globe War 2
Twelvemonth or period: Circa 500 BC to 1945
Advice beyond great distances has been achieved since antiquity through everything from smoke signals to the written word. This changed very little until the advent of the telegraph in 1792.
This technology finally offered a "faster than horse" method of communication over long distances and was revolutionary at the time. There were, of course, other methods of communications aside from letter-writing, but their utility was express to line of sight.
1865 saw the development of pneumatic postal service, which you might nonetheless see in banks and supermarkets. This allowed for an even greater speed of advice - but over a much shorter distance. Then, when the phone and radio hit the scene in the 1800s everything changed.
With their power to provide, more or less, instant communication, the world would never go back. They both remain very important methods of media to this very mean solar day.
2. The post-state of war years and CompuServe
Year or catamenia: 1945 to 1980s
The technological explosion in computing after the 1940s paved the fashion for the social media world we encounter today. Initially humble in scale, with localized computer networks, CompuServe came into being in the 1960s.
The internet, as we know it, was non too far behind. Primitive emails get-go appeared in 1966.
The 1970s saw farther evolution with 1979 seeing the advent of Usenet, which allowed people to communicate through virtual newsletters, articles, or posts to newsgroups.
This decade also saw the introduction of dwelling house computers with the type of social media we would recognize today developing before long after.
Usenet systems were the brainchild of Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis. True social media came 1 step closer during the 1980s.
iii. Early social media apps are born: The Well and GENie
Year or menstruation: 1985
1985 saw the introduction of The Well and GENie. GENie (Full general Electrical Network for Information Substitution) was an online service created for GE.
This was a critical moment in the history of social media, in concern and in full general, and, believe it or not, GENie was still used well into the late 1990s. It had 350,000 users at its summit and was only made redundant by the development of the World Wide Web.
4. Listverse makes its debut
Year or menses: 1986
Listserv (the original, non the modern top ten site) fabricated its debut in 1986. This was, in effect, a mailing listing that allowed individuals to contact multiple users in one email. This is commonplace today merely was revolutionary at the time.
RELATED: YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE COULD Exist MAKING YOU Feel Alone AND DEPRESSED
Internet Relay Chats (IRCs) also first appeared in 1988 and were still in use well into the 1990s. They were used for file sharing, link sharing, and generally keeping in touch.
5. The chatroom rises with The Palace
Year or menses: 1994
1994 saw the introduction of The Palace. It allowed users to interact with one another on a graphical conversation room server, which they termed "palaces".
Each user would have their own avatar overlaid on a graphical properties. It is still in performance in one form or some other, if you lot desire to try it out.
6. Sixdegrees.com was the kickoff truthful social media site
Year or menstruum: 1997
The first recognizable social media site, SixDegrees.com, was built-in. This enabled users to upload profile pictures and connect with others.
Six degrees likewise allow users make friends with each other and expand their social groups. Incredibly, in 2000 information technology was purchased for $125 million and shut down in 2001, but brought dorsum a few years afterwards.
Users were able to send letters and post message board items to others in first, second, and third-degree connections - hence the name.
7. Moveon.org was i of the first activist social media sites
Year or menses: 1998
In 1998, Moveon.org opened for business organisation. Information technology was initially formed as an email group and began life passing around petitions opposing the impeachment of Nib Clinton.
It later on went on to promote general internet activism, such as opposing US military actions abroad, and supporting autonomous candidates in the U.S., as well as fundraising.
Whatsoever your political views and criticisms of the site's motives, it was a precursor of the plethora of like social media campaigns all across the political spectrum seen today.
eight. Blogging sites begin to appear just before Y2K
Twelvemonth or period: 1999
Only before the turn of the Millenium, the outset blogging sites started to become pop, and this grade of social media is still very pop today.
LiveJournal, for instance, was founded in 1999. This is a social network built effectually constantly updating blog posts.
Information technology encouraged users to follow each other and create groups that also collaborate with 1 another.
ix. LunarStorm was 1 of the starting time ad-financed social media sites
Year or menstruation: 2000
In 2000, LunarStorm was launched. This was 1 of the first commercial advertisement-financed social networking websites.
This strategy would become increasingly of import as the decade progressed.
The site was aimed at teenagers and developed in Sweden. By2007, it had grown to an impressive one.ii million members, lxx% of which were between the ages of 12 and 17.
The site was close downwardly in 2010.
10. Wikipedia is born
Yr or period: 2001
The mighty Wikipedia, whether you love it or loathe it, was launched in 2001. Its impact on the internet cannot be underestimated - even if the validity of its content can often be questionable.
Its founding aim was to provide an online encyclopedia that allowed anyone to edit articles. It should not surprise you that it is the earth'due south most popular general reference site on the web.
It is a not-for-turn a profit entity and, despite its critics, is mostly well-loved.
Wikipedia do not consider the site to be social media per se, just it tin can exist described equally an online community of like-minded people and thus is affiliated with social media.
11. Friendster was an early behemothic of social media
Year or flow: 2002
Friendster emerged in 2002. This Malaysian-built platform, at present defunct, was initially used as a social networking service website. It was used for all the usual things, merely also equally a dating site and event, band, and hobby discovery service.
It introduced social gaming in 2011. Friendster airtight its doors in 2015 afterward a lack of engagement from its members and, "the evolving mural in our challenging industry".
12. LastFM was one of the first online music sites
Yr or period: 2002
Some other of import footstep in the history of social media platforms and social media sites was the emergence of LastFM.
LastFM made its debut in 2002. It was one of the commencement online music databases and online radio streaming that have become the norm today.
13. LinkedIn appears on the scene
Year or period: 2003
2003 saw the emergence of LinkedIn. Its unique selling point is obvious to anyone who uses it.
Its devotion to social media for business organisation has enabled its steady growth into one of the almost popular social media sites in the world.
14. The rise and fall of MySpace
Year or catamenia: 2003
2003 also saw the launch of MySpace, which quickly became "the" social media platform at the time. It immune users to completely customize their contour, but also to could embed music and videos.
An important moment in the history of social media and pretty revolutionary at the time.
15. WordPress fires upwardly its engines
Twelvemonth or period: 2003
WordPress was too launched in 2003, opening up blogging to almost anyone. It now powers many websites.
xvi. Photosharing, MMO's, and online storage becomes popular
Year or menstruum: 2003
Photo sharing became mainstream when the likes of Photobucket and Flickr, among others, appeared in 2003.
SecondLife as well launched in 2003. This is 1 of the forerunners of today'southward massively multiplayer online role-playing games.
Del.icio.usa, an online social site offering storage, sharing, and discovery of web bookmarks, was too born in 2003.
17. Proto-Facebook and others are born
Year or period: 2004
2004 saw many more services launched, including the initial Harvard dorm-based version of Facebook. Care2, Multiply, Ning, Orkut, Mixi, Piczo, and Hyves were also launched.
18. YouTube launches in 2005
Year or period: 2005
YouTube beginning appeared in 2005 and launched an entirely new method of communication. The ability to create and share media over very long distances was such a game-changer that it has get something of a behemoth ever since.
Other notable launches this year included Yahoo!360, Bebo, and the "mighty" Reddit. Social media platforms were started to find their legs.
19. Facebook launches and begins to monopolize the market
Year or period: 2006
2006 saw the appearance of Facebook. It remains i of the virtually popular social media platforms on the internet, and by extension, the world.
Facebook has seen staggering growth since 2006, and information technology is now one of the most visited sites on the spider web.
twenty. Twitter rises in 2006
Year or menstruation: 2006
Twitter also, launched in 2006, has attained an almost "cult-similar" status since inception. Its power to allow users to interact direct with celebrities was near unheard of previously.
21. Tumblr and Friendfeed join the fray
Twelvemonth or menses: 2007
Tumblr and FriendFeed joined the party in 2007. Tumblr has grown in popularity, especially with teens and those who prey on them, with its microblogging and social networking features.
To engagement, information technology has more than350 million blogs lonely, wow.
22. Businesses 'cotton on' to the power of social media
Year or period: 2008
Around this time, businesses really started to accept notice of social media, and especially its power for ad. Businesses rushed to open accounts and link to them and to other popular sites.
23. The market starts to get crowded
Twelvemonth or catamenia: 2009
Spotify, Ping, Groupon, and Kontain appeared in 2008, continuing the evolution of niches within the growing social market. Location-based social media likewise began to accept agree in 2009 with the launch of Square.
This was i of the first sites to innovate a "bank check-in" feature. 2010 saw the birth of Instagram, Pinterest, and Google Fizz.
The former ii have grown in popularity and are giants in their own right today.
24. The emergence of Instagram would shake up the social media scene
Year or menstruum: 2010
However another important step in the evolution of social media platforms was the launch of Instagram in 2010. A U.s.-based photo and video sharing platform, Instagram is today one of the biggest social media sites in the world.
It was created past Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, and is available on jutst most all smart device platforms. One of its standout features in the early on days was the power for users to edit uploaded content inside the app and organize material using tags and other location information.
Subsequently its release, it quickly became widely pop, acquiring somewhere in the region of2 million users within its showtime few months lone. Seeing the potential for the social media platform, Facebook acquired the visitor in 2012.
Today, it is widely used past individual users and businesses to promote themselves and acts largely every bit an advertisement platform.
25. WeChat is some other very pop social media platform today
Yr or period: 2011
WeChat first appeared on the scene in 2011. A Chinese entry into the social media industry, today, it is one of the world'south most pop social media apps.
By some estimates, WeChat has more than1 billion active monthly users. Described by some as the "app for everything", WeChat is a i-stop-shop for all things social media.
Today it is owned by the Chinese tech giant Tencent and offers its users not only the nuts of social media only also the power to carry out financial transactions and purchases, like booking flights and hotels through the app.
Still, due to its popularity, WeChat is too subject to mass surveillance past the Chinese Communist Party, and is also prone to censorship of any politically sensitive content in Mainland china.
26. The ill-fated Google+ is born
Year or flow: 2011
Google decided to launch Google+ in 2011 as a fully-fledged social networking tool. Users were able to grade group contacts into "circles" and chat via video "hangouts".
It has recently been discontinued.
27. Multipurpose social media becomes a affair
Twelvemonth or period: 2011
With the swell 'speciation' of social media since the 2000s, a method of unifying their unique features together was fast becoming a necessity. Pheed took advantage of this with its service.
Pheed immune you to share text, photo, audio, vocalisation notes, video, and live broadcasts in the same space. A strategy since copied by many other platforms.
Social media platforms, and social media in general, were besides offset to drive a lust for rapid-fire updates and information. This led to the launch of Vine in 2012.
Vine, as you are probably aware, lets you share 6-second videos for no other reason than that you can. It was acquired by Twitter in 2012 and close downwardly in 2019.
28. Minds might just exist the social media platform of the future
Year or period: 2016
With growing fears over many major social media sites actively editing content on their sites and suppressing sure demographics, alternative social media sites began to announced towards the second half of the 2010s. One of the most notable social media platforms to emerge was Minds.com.
This free and open-source social media platform has seen pregnant growth in users since its launch in 2016. One of its unique selling points is non just its strict neutrality when information technology comes to complimentary voice communication, just also its integration of blockchain to reward its community with ERC20 tokens.
Users tin employ these tokens to promote their own content or help crowdfund other users through monthly subscriptions to access exclusive content and other services. Self-described as a "Crypt Social Network", Minds.com's privacy, decentralization, optional anonymity, and steadfast commitment to transparency and protecting freedom of speech is appealing to many of its regular users.
29. Gab is another new contender in the battle for social media platform wars
Twelvemonth or menstruum: 2016
Nonetheless another new contender in the social media ecosystem is Gab. Besides standing for the protection of freedom of speech and individual liberty, Gab as well vies for dominance in the market place.
Attracting both applause and criticism in seemingly equal measures, Gab has become a controversial social media platform of late. In 2019, Gab launched its Dissenter browser extension that lets logged in users make comments on content hosted on other websites. The idea os that users tin bypass any moderation practices that these sites may have in place to launch full-throttled abuse. It is particularly popular with far-right extremists, white-power terrorists, and sex-pests who have been banned by other platforms. Information technology has been described as, "an "online cesspool of antisemitism, hate speech, and racism.
thirty. The nativity of TikTok was another important footstep for social media platforms
Year or flow: 2016
In 2016, the now incredibly pop social media platform, TikTok, was first launched by Douyin for the Chinese market place, it was later launched on iOS and Android outside of China.
Primarily focussing on uploading and sharing videos, this social networking app has seen an explosion in popularity over the last few years. Most users use information technology to record short dance, lip-syn, one-act, or other talent videos and information technology seems to be really finding its pace.
While many videos loaded to the site may be utterly cringe-worthy, there is no incertitude that it is a highly addictive social media platform for millions of users effectually the world.
31. Parler could challenge Twitter for dominance in the non too distant future
Year or menstruum: 2018
Parler is one of the newest kids on the block when it comes to social media platforms and apps. Launched in 2018, Parler describes itself every bit an unbiased, free-spoken communication social media platform defended to protecting its users' rights above all other concerns.
Named after the French "to speak", Parler was created past CEO John Matze in 2018. The social media platform gained a surge in users when some prominent public figures signed up and promoted the site between belatedly-2018 and early-2019.
Parler, like so many other newer social media platforms, has ambitions to topple some of the older, more established social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Whether it will achieve this m vision is notwithstanding to be seen.
32. Social media is a virtual ecosystem today
Year or menses: NA
Today, there is an eye-boggling diversity of social media platforms, social media apps, and other social media sites, many of which allow for sharing between each other. As you are all aware, this has enabled this media to allow maximum exposure for users without sacrificing interpersonal communication.
Information technology'due south actually pretty amazing. Businesses and individuals could not imagine a world without information technology, such has been its infiltration in our lives.
Information technology has changed our world, for better or good, and is set to make traditional media, like printed newspapers, extinct.
33. The future is uncertain
Year or menstruum: 2018 - Onwards
Who can tell what will happen over the next few decades for social media? Volition it even be in x, twenty, or more years?
We can never know for sure, but given club's rapid uptake of the medium so far it clearly meets a demand nosotros all take. Nosotros are social creatures subsequently all, and any course of media that makes meeting and talking with others without actually needing to interact with them in the real earth is likely to go on in some form or other well in the hereafter.
Despite this apparent benefit, we have all seen the 'dark side' of social media abound over the last few years, especially its potential for being hijacked for political proceeds and manipulation. Whether people volition tire of the constant stream of bile and abuse, as well as the abiding advertising, or feel this is merely the price we accept to pay for social media, remains to be seen.
0 Response to "What Was the First True Social Media Network"
Post a Comment