Burkett-Hostetler - Social Media History

By HostetlerrAlexandraa
  • First Bulletin Board System (CBBS)

    First Bulletin Board System (CBBS)

    Enabled users to exchange messages and files on early computer networks, introducing online community communication.

  • SixDegrees.com Launch

    SixDegrees.com became the first recognizable social networking site where users could create profiles, make friend lists, and connect, establishing early social networking principles.
  • Friendster Launch

    Friendster Launch

    Friendster introduced social networking with status updates and emphasized connections of friends-of-friends, influencing future platforms’ designs.

  • MySpace Launch

    MySpace popularized highly customizable profiles integrated with music, becoming the dominant social network in the mid-2000s.

  • Facebook Launch

    Originally for Harvard students, Facebook quickly expanded and popularized the News Feed, becoming the world’s leading social network.
  • YouTube Launch

    YouTube Launch

    YouTube revolutionized video sharing online, allowing users to upload, view, and share videos, creating a new culture of digital content.

  • Facebook News Feed Introduced

    Centralized updates in a scrollable feed, transforming how users consumed and interacted with content.
  • Twitter Launch

    Twitter Launch

    Twitter introduced short, real-time posts ("tweets"), reshaping news dissemination and public communication.

  • Obama’s Presidential Campaign Effectively Uses Social Media

    Marked a milestone in political communication by mobilizing voters through social platforms.
  • Hashtags Popularized on Twitter

    Hashtags Popularized on Twitter

    Hashtags allowed users to tag content by topic, improving content discovery and community engagement.
  • Instagram Launch

    Instagram Launch

    Instagram made photo-sharing with artistic filters mainstream, sparking influencer culture and mobile visual storytelling.
  • Arab Spring Begins

    Arab Spring Begins

    Social media became a critical tool for organizing protests and spreading awareness globally, highlighting digital activism’s power.
  • Snapchat Launch

    Snapchat Launch

    Snapchat popularized ephemeral content and introduced Stories, changing how people shared everyday moments online.
  • Instagram Stories Launched

    Instagram Stories Launched

    Introduced temporary posts that disappear after 24 hours, encouraging more spontaneous sharing.
  • Ice Bucket Challenge Viral Campaign

    Ice Bucket Challenge Viral Campaign

    Demonstrated social media’s ability to spread charitable causes quickly and engage global audiences.
  • TikTok Launch (as Douyin in China, international launch later)

    TikTok Launch (as Douyin in China, international launch later)

    TikTok combined short-form video and powerful algorithms to create a highly engaging platform for young creators worldwide.

  • Facebook Live Streaming Introduced

    Real-time video broadcasting expanded ways users and brands could interact with audiences immediately.

  • Elon Musk Acquires Twitter

    This major ownership change has had notable impacts on social media governance and public discourse.
  • Threads Launch by Instagram

    Threads Launch by Instagram

    Threads offered a new text-based social platform tied to Instagram accounts, attracting users seeking alternatives to traditional microblogging.