Difference between revisions of "Timeline of social media"

This page is a timeline of [[social media]]. Major launches, milestones and other major events are included.

|The [[PLATO system]] developed at the [[University of Illinois]] and then commercially marketed by [[Control Data Corporation]], offers early forms of social media with Notes, PLATO's message forum application; TERM-talk, its instant messaging feature; [[Talkomatic]], perhaps the first online chat room; News Report, a crowd-sourced online newspaper and blog; and Access Lists, enabling the owner of a notesfile or other application to limit access to a certain set of users, for example, only friends, classmates, or co-workers.

|As [[Operating system]]s with a [[graphical user interface]], such as [[Windows 95]] and [[classic Mac OS|Mac OS]] begin to emerge and gain popularity, this created an environment that allows for early social media platforms to thrive and exist.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/windows-95-remains-most-popular-operating-system/|title=Windows 95 remains most popular operating system|website=CNET|access-date=2016-07-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.techradar.com/us/news/software/operating-systems/happy-birthday-windows-95-the-os-that-changed-it-all-711984|title=Happy birthday, Windows 95 - the OS that changed it all|access-date=2016-07-25}}</ref>

[[Bulletin board system]]s (BBS) and [[Internet Relay Chat]] (IRC) were popular during this time period, and IRC is still widely used today.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbscorner.com/usersinfo/bbshistory.htm|title=The BBS Corner - Main Page|website=www.bbscorner.com|access-date=2016-07-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://social.techcrunch.com/2013/01/06/irc-has-lost-60-of-its-users-since-2003-but-life-as-a-robot-is-just-beginning/|title=IRC Has Lost 60% Of Its Users Since 2003, But Life As A Robot Is Just Beginning|last=Williams|first=Alex|website=TechCrunch|access-date=2016-07-25}}</ref>

|Various notable social media platforms are developed and released such as [[Myspace]] and [[Facebook]], and [[blog]]ging begins to gain popularity. [[Instant messaging]] platforms such as [[AOL Instant Messenger]] (AIM) and [[Windows Live Messenger]] also become increasingly popular.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.whoishostingthis.com/blog/2014/10/22/instant-messengers/|title=The Rise and Fall of Instant Messengers|date=2014-10-22|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-25}}</ref>

|Many social media platforms that have remained are now thriving, and new ones are appearing sporadically. This includes popular blogs, instant messaging servers, and various [[Social networking service|social networking]] platforms such as Facebook, [[LinkedIn]], MySpace, and [[Twitter]].<ref name=":2" />

With advances in [[smartphone]] technology, almost all social media services now have their own [[mobile app]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/best-social-media-apps-2015-11|title=The 16 social media apps everyone should have|access-date=2016-07-25}}</ref>

|[[Talkomatic]] is created by Dave Woolley and Douglas Brown at the University of Illinois, as a multi-user chat room application. It is an instant sensation among users in the [[PLATO System]]'s online community.

|TERM-Talk is created by the staff at the Computer-based Education Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois, as an instant-messaging application enabling any two users on the [[PLATO system]] to conduct a live, character-by-character typed conversation on the bottom of the screen of their PLATO terminals. Soon many features would be added to it including "Monitor Mode," enabling one user in the TERM-talk to share their own screen with the other user, to ask questions or point out something that they're seeing. Years later this concept would be introduced as "Screen Sharing" or [[Remote Desktop Software]].

|PLATO Notes is created by 17-year-old student Dave Woolley at the Computer-based Education Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois, as a conferencing and bulletin board forum system for communicating with the user community. In 1976, Notes expanded to enable any user to create a "notesfile" on any subject. PLATO Notes would serve as the inspiration for [[Lotus Notes]] developed by former PLATO users Ray Ozzie, Len Kawell, and Tim Halvorsen.

An example of a popular IRC client today is [[mIRC]].

|[[ICQ]] is released by [[Israeli]] company [[Mirabilis (company)|Mirabilis]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2012/10/25/instant-messaging-history/|title=A Brief History of Instant Messaging|last=Petronzio|first=Matt|website=Mashable|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|Social networking website [[SixDegrees.com]] is created, which is said to be the first ever social media website.<ref name="historycooperative.org">{{Cite web|url=http://historycooperative.org/the-history-of-social-media/|title=The History of Social Media {{!}} History Cooperative|website=historycooperative.org|access-date=2016-07-23}}</ref>

|ICQ is acquired by [[AOL]], and the service is patented.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2591723.stm|title=AOL wins instant messaging case|date=2002-12-19|newspaper=BBC|access-date=2016-07-23}}</ref>

|SixDegrees.com is purchased by [[YouthStream Media Networks]] for $125 million.<ref>{{cite book|title=Stealing MySpace: The Battle to Control the Most Popular Website in America|last=Angwin|first=Julia|publisher=Random House|year=2009|page=52}}</ref>

|[[Yahoo! Messenger]], another popular instant messaging service, launches.<ref name=":1" />

|[[MSN Messenger]] (also known as Windows Live Messenger), a popular messaging, video and voice calling service, launches.<ref name=":1" />

|[[Habbo]], a game-based social networking site, launches.

|[[Windows Messenger]] is released, and is shipped with [[Windows XP]]. This is an integrated version of MSN Messenger.

|Social networking and gaming site [[Friendster]] launches. The service would be popular in Asia and the Pacific Islands.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/then-and-now-a-history-of-social-networking-sites/4/|title=Then and now: a history of social networking sites|date=2014-02-04|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|Social networking website [[Hi5]] launches.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://royal.pingdom.com/2011/03/25/social-networks-one-million-visitors-per-day/|title=29 social networks that have at least one million visitors per day|date=2011-03-25|website=Pingdom Royal|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|Another business-oriented social networking website, [[XING]], launches. This service is more popular in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.xing.com/2008/10/5-years-of-xing-%25E2%2580%2593-some-memorable-moments-and-milestones/|title=Nothing found for 2008 10 5 Years Of Xing %25E2%2580%2593 Some Memorable Moments And Milestones|website=net.work.xing - The corporate blog of XING|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[Skype]], a very popular instant messaging and video/voice calling service ([[VoIP]]), launches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.emirates247.com/news/happy-birthday-skype-even-monkeys-use-it-now-2013-08-28-1.519060|title=Happy Birthday Skype: Even monkeys use it now|last=Agencies|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[Facebook]], the most popular social networking service to-date, launches. It now features a voice and video calling service, as well as a widely used instant messaging service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/facebooks-first-8-features-from-2004-2014-8|title=The Only 8 Features Facebook Had When It Launched In 2004|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[Flickr]], an image and video hosting website, launches. Many users use Flickr to keep personal photos, and it is also widely used as a platform for hosting images and videos that are later embedded in other websites and services (such as blogs).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/2004/12/photo-site-a-hit-with-bloggers/|title=Photo Site a Hit With Bloggers|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-23}}</ref>

|[[Orkut]], a social networking website owned by [[Google]], launches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/look-back-googles-history-social-media-failures-158700|title=A Look Back at Google's History of Social Media Failures|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[Tagged]], a social discovery website, launches.<ref name=":2" />

|[[Bebo]], a social networking website, launches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://seo-dir.com/item/bebo/|title=Bebo - SEO DIR|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|Myspace is acquired by [[News Corporation]] for $580 million.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7294174.stm|title=AOL acquires Bebo social network|date=2008-03-13|newspaper=BBC|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[Qzone]], a Chinese social networking website, launches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chinainternetwatch.com/3346/tencent-qzone/|title=Qzone: China's Biggest Social Network — China Internet Watch|website=www.chinainternetwatch.com|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[Renren]], a Chinese social networking website, launches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.renren-inc.com/en/|title=Renren - HOME|website=www.renren-inc.com|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[YouTube]], a video sharing service that allows users to post virtually anything, from music, [[Let's Play (video gaming)|let's plays]], and [[vlogs]], launches. Users can then comment on these videos. Users used to be able to make video replies, but that feature was removed in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://social.techcrunch.com/2013/08/27/google-dumps-video-responses-from-youtube-due-to-dismal-0004-click-through-rate/|title=Google Dumps Video Responses From YouTube Due To Dismal .0004% Click-Through Rate|last=Panzarino|first=Matthew|website=TechCrunch|access-date=2016-07-23}}</ref>

|[[Yahoo!]] acquires Flickr.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blog.flickr.net/en/2005/03/20/yahoo-actually-does-acquire-flickr/|title=Yahoo actually does acquire Flickr {{!}} Flickr Blog|website=blog.flickr.net|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[VK (social networking)|VK]] (VKontakte), a extremely popular Russian-based social networking service that resembles Facebook, launches. This service is very popular in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/russias-mark-zuckerberg-resigns-vkontakte-ceo-1443012|title=Russia's Mark Zuckerberg Resigns as VKontakte CEO|date=2014-04-02|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[Tumblr]], a popular [[microblogging]] and social networking website, launches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tumblr.com/about|title=About {{!}} Tumblr|website=www.tumblr.com|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[FriendFeed]], a real-time social media [[feed aggregator]], launches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/friendfeed#/entity|title=FriendFeed {{!}} CrunchBase|website=www.crunchbase.com|access-date=2016-08-28}}</ref>

|[[Justin.tv]], a [[live-streaming]] that allowed anyone to broadcast video online, launches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/1839300/many-pivots-justintv-how-livecam-show-became-home-video-gaming-superstars|title=The Many Pivots Of Justin.tv: How A Livecam Show Became Home To Video Gaming Superstars|date=2012-06-15|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[Sina Weibo]], a Chinese [[microblogging]] website, launches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-03/02/content_12099500.htm|title=Special: Micro blog's macro impact|website=www.chinadaily.com.cn|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[Pinterest]], a photo sharing website, launches. This services allows users to submit images or "pins", then other users can "pin" them on personalized "pinboards". Users can then comment on each other's content and interact with it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/life/article/Pinning-These-are-a-few-of-my-favorite-things-1882964.php|title=Pinning: These are a few of my favourite things|access-date=2016-07-23}}</ref>

|AOL sells ICQ to [[Mail.Ru]] (formerly known as Digital Sky Technologies) for $185 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430191635/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2ba3294a-52c1-11df-a192-00144feab49a.html|title=FT.com / Media - AOL sells ICQ to Russian internet company|date=2010-04-30|access-date=2016-07-23}}</ref>

|Bebo is sold by AOL to [[Criterion Capital Partners]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/aol-to-sell-bebo-to-criterion-capital-partners-2010-6|title=AOL To Sell Bebo to Criterion Capital Partners|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[Instagram]], a photo/video sharing and social media service, launches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/press/?hl=en|title=Instagram|website=www.instagram.com|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[Quora]], a popular question-and-answer platform, launches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/profile/adam-dangelo/|title=Adam D'Angelo|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[Snapchat]], a photo/video sharing and social media service, launches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2014/02/13/snapchat-founder-facts/|title=11 Things You Didn't Know About Snapchat's Founders|last=Ang|first=Sarah|website=Mashable|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[Microsoft]] acquires [[Skype Technologies]] for $8.5 billion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/10/14/microsoft-finalizes-acquisition-of-skype-tony-bates-shares-his/|title=Microsoft finalizes acquisition of Skype, Tony Bates shares his thoughts (video)|website=Engadget|access-date=2016-07-23}}</ref>

|[[Google+]], a widely popular social networking service, launches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/introducing-google-project-real-life.html|title=Introducing the Google+ project: Real-life sharing, rethought for the web|website=Official Google Blog|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[Keek]], a video sharing and social media service, launches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://business.financialpost.com/fp-tech-desk/torontos-keek-raises-18m-for-social-video-networking-platform|title=Toronto's Keek raises $18M for social video networking platform|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|Myspace is sold to [[Specific Media]] by News Corp. for $35 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/business-13969338|title=MySpace sold to Specific Media by Murdoch's News Corp - BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|LinkedIn files for an [[IPO]] and trades its first shares under the NYSE symbol "LNKD", at $45 per share.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GR2EAAAAQBAJ|title=Reid Hoffman and Linkedin|last=Byers|first=Ann|date=2013-07-15|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=9781448895373|language=en}}</ref>

|[[Twitch.tv]], a live-streaming service that is popular worldwide, launches. This service is a spin-off from Justin.tv, as it is more focused on broadcasting users playing [[video game]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thenextweb.com/media/2011/06/06/twitchtv-justin-tvs-killer-new-esports-project/#gref|title=TwitchTV: Justin.tv's killer new esports project|last=Wilhelm|first=Alex|date=2011-06-06|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[Tinder (app)|Tinder]], a widely popular dating-oriented social networking service, launches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://growthhackers.com/growth-studies/what-ignited-tinders-explosive-growth|title=What Ignited Tinder's Explosive Growth?|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[Vine (service)|Vine]], a widely popular video sharing and social media service, launches shortly after being acquired by Twitter for $30 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnbc.com/id/100836937|title=Instagram Video Taking a Swing at Vine: Study|last=Langer|first=Eli|date=2013-06-23|access-date=2016-07-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://allthingsd.com/20121009/twitter-buys-vine-a-video-clip-company-that-never-launched/|title=Twitter Buys Vine, a Video Clip Company That Never Launched|language=en-us|access-date=2016-07-23}}</ref>

|Twitter files for its IPO, and begins trading on the [[New York Stock Exchange]]. The share closes at US$44.90, giving the company a valuation of around US$31 billion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/business-24851054|title=Twitter shares jump 73% in market debut - BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-08-28}}</ref>

|Instant messaging and video/voice calling service [[Google Hangouts]] launches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thenextweb.com/google/2013/05/15/google-launches-a-new-unified-cross-platform-messaging-service/#gref|title=Google Launches Hangouts Messaging Service for iOS, Android and Web|last=Summers|first=Nick|date=2013-05-15|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[Amazon.com|Amazon]] acquires Twitch.tv for $970 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theverge.com/2014/8/25/6066295/amazon-reportedly-buying-twitch-for-over-1-billion|title=Amazon, not Google, is buying Twitch for $970 million|last=Welch|first=Chris|date=2014-08-25|website=The Verge|access-date=2016-07-23}}</ref>

|Pinterest announces the launch of Buyable Pins, a special type of pin that can be used to make purchases within Pinterest itself. When users select a Buyable Pin, they have the option of choosing the item they wish to buy (for instance, choosing between different dress sizes and colors), and they can then make the purchase within the app using a variety of payment methods, including [[Apple Pay]]. Launch partners include [[Shopify]] and Demandware. The buyable pins are free to use, and Pinterest does not take a cut of the purchases made. However, Pinterest intends to allow sellers to promote buyable pins just as they can promote other pins.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.pinterest.com/en/buyable-pins|title=Coming soon: Buyable Pins!|date=2015-06-02|access-date=2016-08-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://social.techcrunch.com/2015/06/02/pinterest-unveils-buyable-pins-a-way-to-purchase-things-directly-from-pinterest/|title=Pinterest Unveils Buyable Pins, A Way To Purchase Things Directly Within Pinterest|last=Lynley|first=Matthew|website=TechCrunch|access-date=2016-08-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://time.com/3905904/pinterest-shopping-buyable-pins/|title=Pinterest Wants You to Go Shopping with New 'Buyable Pins'|last=Rao/Fortune|first=Leena|website=TIME.com|access-date=2016-08-28}}</ref>

|[[Periscope (app)|Periscope]], a live video sharing app, launches shortly after being acquired by Twitter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.twitter.com/2015/introducing-periscope|title=Introducing Periscope {{!}} Twitter Blogs|website=blog.twitter.com|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[Meerkat (app)|Meerkat]], an application similar to Periscope, launches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fromthegrapevine.com/blogs/innovation/meerkat-biggest-hit-sxsw|title=Meerkat is the biggest hit at SXSW|website=From the Grapevine|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|[[Time Inc.]] buys Myspace and its parent company.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/time-inc-myspace-viant-1201703860/|title=Time Inc. Buys Myspace Parent Company Viant|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=2016-02-11|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-26}}</ref>

|Yahoo discontinues its services for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Solaris clients in early August 2016. It will now only support Yahoo Messenger on [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]], and web clients.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/old-yahoo-messenger-app-to-shut-down-on-august-5-848476|title=Old Yahoo Messenger App to Shut Down on August 5|access-date=2016-07-23}}</ref>

* [[Timeline of Facebook]]

* [[Timeline of Instagram]]

* [[Timeline of LinkedIn]]

* [[Timeline of Pinterest]]

* [[Timeline of Snapchat]]

* [[Timeline of Twitter]]

[[Category:Technology timelines|Social media]]

[[Category:Social media]]