Churn - Social Media History

By Bamberr
  • 1978 – Bulletin Board System

    1978 – Bulletin Board System

    Early text based forums that let users post messages and share files online, laying the foundation for digital communities.
  • 1985 – AOL

    1985 – AOL

    America Oline ( AOL ) - popularized dial up internet access and instant messaging, making online chat mainstream in the U.S.
  • 1987 – Usenet

    1987 – Usenet

    An early discussion system where people exchanged posts in newsgroups, shaping early online culture.
  • 2002 – Friendster

    2002 – Friendster

    One of the first modern social networking sites, introducing the concept of connecting with “friends” online.
  • 2003 – MySpace

    2003 – MySpace

    Became the largest social networking site in the mid-2000s, known for music sharing and customizable profiles.
  • 2004 – Facebook

    2004 – Facebook

    Launched at Harvard, later opened to the public; revolutionized online identity and became the dominant social network.
  • 2005 – YouTube

    2005 – YouTube

    Brought video sharing to the mainstream, transforming how people consume and create online media.
  • 2006 – Twitter (now X)

    2006 – Twitter (now X)

    Introduced microblogging with 140 character posts, shaping real time news and trending conversations.
  • 2007 – Twitter Hashtags

    2007 – Twitter Hashtags

    The first hashtag (#barcamp) organized conversations by topic, later becoming central to movements and trends.
  • 2009 – Facebook News Feed

    2009 – Facebook News Feed

    Transformed the platform by personalizing content streams, sparking debates about algorithms and visibility.
  • 2010 – Instagram

    2010 – Instagram

    Popularized visual sharing with photos and later videos, becoming a cultural hub for lifestyle and branding.
  • 2011 – Arab Spring

    2011 – Arab Spring

    Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook were used to organize protests and share news globally, showing their power in politics.
  • 2014 – Ice Bucket Challenge

    2014 – Ice Bucket Challenge

    Went viral on Facebook and Instagram, raising awareness and millions of dollars for ALS research, showing the social impact of viral campaigns.
  • 2016 – TikTok

    2016 – TikTok

    Revolutionized short-form video content with algorithm driven feeds, especially popular with Gen Z.
  • 2016 – Instagram Stories

    2016 – Instagram Stories

    Borrowed from Snapchat, Stories introduced ephemeral 24-hour posts that became a standard across platforms.