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The precursor to the internet, ARPANET enabled the first digital message between computers, setting the stage for all online communication -
One of the earliest chat systems, it allowed multiple users to communicate in real-time on the PLATO system. -
Gary Thuerk sent an unsolicited email to 400 recipients on ARPANET, beginning digital marketing. -
Users dialed in to BBS to share messages and files, fostering the first virtual communities. -
Users created personal homepages tied to themes—an early form of online identity and expression. -
An early social site that helped people reconnect with old school friends through profile-based search. -
Invented by Tim Berners-Lee, it made browsing, hyperlinking, and website access globally available. -
One of the first IM services, ICQ popularized user IDs and status messages -
Widely considered the first modern social networking site and users could list friends and connect to others -
Blended blogging with social networking, encouraging self-expression and interaction through journal entries. -
It introduced the circle of friends model that inspired future social networks. -
Offered customizable profiles and music sharing, becoming a cultural hub in the mid-2000s. -
Started as a Harvard-only network, Facebook eventually opened to the public and grew into the largest global platform. -
Designed for professional networking, it focused on job seekers, resumes, and career connections. -
Brought large-scale photo sharing to the web, pioneering tagging and open licensing. -
Revolutionized online video by allowing easy uploading, sharing, and embedding of videos. -
Users could upvote and downvote content in categorized “subreddits,” fostering community-based forums. -
Introduced microblogging with a 140-character limit, becoming central to real-time conversations. -
Let users see a rolling list of updates, transforming the passive profile model into a dynamic experience. -
Enabled social media to go mobile; platforms rapidly adapted for on-the-go usage. -
Created by users and later formalized by Twitter, hashtags became key for trends and discovery. -
Focused on visual content discovery via virtual pinboards, especially popular for DIY, fashion, and recipes. -
Centered on mobile photography and filters, Instagram quickly gained a creative user base. -
Brought ephemeral content to the mainstream with disappearing photos and videos. -
A $1 billion purchase that strengthened Facebook’s mobile and visual media dominance. -
Pioneered short-form looping videos; while short-lived, it influenced TikTok and meme culture.