The History Of Social Media: A Timeline

Computer engineer Ray Tomlinson sent the first email in 1971 using ARPANET to a computer sitting right next to him. Though the message did not have much meaning, (it read as something along the lines of QWERTYUIOP). This was a huge, groundbreaking moment in the world of internet and computer technology and helped change the way we communicate online today. The Centre for Computing History. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/6116/First-e-mail-sent-by-Ray-Tomlinson/

in 1997, the first "social media" website as we think of it today, SixDegrees, was launched. This was the first site in which you can create a profile and "friend" other users. SixDegrees lasted until 2001 and was an important stepping stone for how social media is used today. History Cooperative. (2018). The History of Social Media: Social Networking Evolution! | History Cooperative. [online] Available at: http://historycooperative.org/the-history-of-social-media/

Shortly after SixDegrees, AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) came onto the online scene in 1997. This service was the first of it's kind to send instant messages back and forth between parties online, it was quite innovative and popular for it's time and was a precursor to texting and Facebook messaging of today. AIM recently ceased operation in 2018.. Sklar, J. (2018). MIT Technology Review. https://www.technologyreview.com/s/609769/aol-instant-messenger-made-social-media-what-it-is-today/

in 1999, two brothers started a Peer to Peer mp3 file sharing service called Napster. The service provided millions of free song and video files to be shared worldwide. This caused a ton of legal issues, and the site shut down in 2001. Many sites followed, and all met the same fate. Services today like Spotify require subscription. Lifewire. (2018). The History of Napster: Yes, It's Still Around. [online] Available at: https://www.lifewire.com/history-of-napster-2438592 [Accessed 11 Sep. 2018].

As sort of another precursor to Myspace and Facebook, Friendster launched in 2002. On this site, you could connect with friends, discover new bands, share media and was also used as a dating app. After more prominent sites took over, Friendster converted to a gaming website before closing up shop in 2015. Cbsnews.com. (2018). Then and now: a history of social networking sites. [online] Available at: https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/then-and-now-a-history-of-social-networking-sites/4/

One of the most popular social media sites, Myspace, launched in 2003. This was once almost as popular as Facebook. Here you could connect with friends, and fully personalize your profile and listen to music. As Facebook became more popular, traffic became nonexistent. The company was sold in 2011 and became a music site. Nicholas Jackson, A. (2018). The Rise and Fall of MySpace. [online] The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/01/the-rise-and-fall-of-myspace/69444/

In 2003, a startup that changed the way we use social media was launched. Here, you could connect with people professionally, find jobs, clients, etc. while still creating a profile and being social. LinkedIn is still used today and stronger than ever, with millions of active profiles and a great way for college grads to find careers and internships. Ourstory.linkedin.com. (2018). A Brief History of LinkedIn. [online] Available at: https://ourstory.linkedin.com/ [Accessed 11 Sep. 2018].

Old cartoons and shows would often depict people calling each other over video and this seemed like a far fetched idea. In 2003, it became a reality when Skype launched, becoming the first video calling service. This was extremely innovative for the time and it is still used today, though competition is heavy with services like Facetime taking over. Whent, R. (2018). A brief history of Skype. [online] IT Business. Available at: https://www.itbusiness.ca/blog/a-brief-history-of-skype/20750

Mark Zuckerberg started 'TheFacebook' in 2004 as a social networking site for Harvard students. It soon grew to college students, and eventually became public, growing rapidly in popularity. Today, it reigns supreme as one of the most powerful muti-million dollar companies today, especially after the purchases of sites like Instagram. Phillips, S. (2018). A brief history of Facebook. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2007/jul/25/media.newmedia

In 2005, a 17 year old started experimenting with a 'tumblelog' system of blogging (one paragraph per post) that was set up like a timeline. This was the seed for Tumblr, a popular blogging site that has achieved a lot of success and a loyal following, and is still popular today. Many blogging sites came before, but this has been the most prominent. Business Insider. (2018). Available at: https://www.businessinsider.com/the-history-of-tumblr-2013-5 [Accessed 11 Sep. 2018].

in 2006, Jack Dorsey started developing a side project called 'twttr', which was initially an SMS based texting service that provided status updates from friends. The concept soon grew, and Twitter became an overnight sensation that is now one of the quickest and convenient ways to scroll a timeline and post content, or 'tweet'. Lifewire. (2018). The History of Twitter You Didn't Know. [online] Available at: https://www.lifewire.com/history-of-twitter-3288854

One of the most recent rulers of social media came in 2010, right around when smart phones were taking over. This innovation was Instagram, a photo sharing site that operated as a timeline format. Instagram is the definition of self made success growing from nothing to 500 million users 8 years later. WeRSM - We are Social Media. (2018). The Complete History of Instagram - We are Social Media. [online] Available at: https://wersm.com/the-complete-history-of-instagram/