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Bulletin Board Systems allowed early computer users to connect remotely, sharing messages, files, and discussion threads. This laid the groundwork for online community building and digital communication. -
Usenet offered decentralized discussion forums categorized by topics, allowing distributed conversation across networks worldwide. This early social networking facilitated group communication long before modern platforms. -
AOL brought internet access to mainstream audiences, providing easy-to-use chat rooms and message boards that connected millions. It was a major step toward interactive online communication beyond text-based formats. -
As one of the first social networking sites, Friendster emphasized connecting friends and building social circles online. It introduced many users to profile-based social media experiences later refined by others. -
MySpace became the largest social media platform in its era, particularly popular among musicians and youth, offering profile customization and music sharing. It demonstrated the power of user-generated culture and personalization on social media. -
Facebook revolutionized online social networking with a clean, scalable platform that encouraged real-world connections and sharing. It set new standards for online identity, privacy settings, and platform interactivity. -
YouTube gave a platform for anyone to upload and share videos, drastically changing media consumption and enabling viral content. It democratized video creation and became a major source of entertainment and information. -
Twitter popularized microblogging with short, real-time messages that shaped breaking news and social conversations. Its hashtag system also helped organize and amplify topics globally. -
The News Feed centralized updates from friends and pages in a constantly refreshing stream, enhancing engagement and personalized content discovery. It transformed how users consumed social information and interacted online. -
Hashtags debuted on Twitter as a way to categorize content and enable topic-based searching, becoming essential for organizing social media conversations. They have since spread to almost every major platform for discovery and trend tracking. -
Instagram focused on mobile photo sharing, making visual storytelling accessible and popular worldwide. It influenced marketing, celebrity culture, and social interactions through images. -
Social media played a pivotal role in mobilizing protests and spreading messages rapidly during the Arab Spring uprisings. It showcased the power of digital communication for political activism and social change. -
The Ice Bucket Challenge went viral on social media, motivating millions worldwide to participate and donate to ALS research. It highlighted how social media can drive philanthropic movements with peer engagement. -
Instagram introduced Stories as temporary posts that disappear after 24 hours, encouraging more casual and spontaneous sharing. This feature sparked a new format widely adopted by other platforms. -
TikTok introduced short-form video content with a powerful algorithm that curates personalized feeds (FYP). It engaged global audiences, especially younger users, through creative, fast-paced videos.