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BBS systems were important, as they were the first digital places where people could post messages and share files. BBS systems in many ways laid the foundation for modern social media. -
Usenet is one of the first places where users could share files, and post to topic based groups. It also introduced threaded conversations similar to what one would see on websites like Reddit today. -
AOL was a forerunner in bringing internet services to the mainstream (when it decided to work). -
MySpace was one of the first true social media platforms as we think of them today. It allowed users to customize profiles, share interests, and post photos easily. -
Facebook transformed social media by implementing friend connections, dynamic news feeds, and later games. Facebook also placed a large emphasis on global communication which made chatting even more accessible -
YouTube was one of the first examples of a platform that let users upload long-from content. YouTube is also credited with creating much of what we know as meme culture today with videos such as Charlie Bit Me and Chocolate Rain. -
The creation and implementation of endless scroll allowed content consumption to become endless and much more addictive. This feature is still being used widely today, and has led to the rise of what is now known as "Brainrot Scrolling." -
Twitter pioneered much of what we consider short form content today by limiting the character limits on posts making them much more bite sized and easily accessible. Twitter also became another global platform for news and trend sharing. -
Tumblr was perhaps the most popular mass blogging social media platform. It also gave many niche communities a place to share memes and socialize without fear of judgement. -
Hashtags were incredibly important to social media history as they created a user friendly way to organize and discover content. Hashtags also made trend tracking much easier. (Started on Twitter) -
Instagram popularized posting selfies with its wide array of filters and basic image editing tools. Instagram also brought about influencer marketing. -
Stories shifted the focus from long-term permanent content, to more intimate immediate style posts. Stories are very unique as they usually disappear after 24 hours or sooner. (Started on Snapchat) -
Demonstrated how social media could use trends as a tool for awareness and raising money for a cause. -
TikTok revolutionized short form content and the ability for anyone to go viral. TikTok is also regarded as having one of the most personalized algorithms for its users. -
MeToo showed how social media can be used to bolster the voices of those who have received some form of abuse or violence. This event also further showed why hashtags are so powerful. (First started in 2006 but gained mainstream attention in 2017).