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Period: to
1970-1980 Events
Social Media History Events between 1970 and 1980 -
Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT)
Nasir Ahmed proposed this compression technique. It has subsequently become the most extensively used data compression technique on social networking, allowing for realistic digital media transmission and streaming. It is the foundation for the majority of media compression standards. (Jack Sockol) -
TERM-Talk
The faculty at the University of Illinois' Computer-based Education Research Laboratory designed TERM-Talk as an instant-messaging program that allows any two users on the PLATO system to have a
live, character-by-character typed chat on the bottom of their PLTO terminals' screens. Years later, the concept of "Screen Sharing'' would be introduced. (Jack Sockol) -
Talkomatic
Talkomatic was an internet chat system created by Dave Wooley and Douglas Brown that allowed a small group of individuals to communicate in real time via text. Each Talkomatic participant has their own piece of the screen, which broadcasts messages as they are entered, letter by letter. (Jack Sockol) -
PLATO-Notes
PLATO Notes was established by Dave Woolley, a 17-year-old student at the University of Illinois' Computer-based Education Research Laboratory, as a conference and bulletin board forum system for connecting with the user community. Notes was expanded in 1976 to let any user to build a "notesfile" on any subject. (Jack Sockol) -
Bulletin Board System (BBS)
The Bulletin Board System (BBS) is a computer or application dedicated to the sharing or exchange of messages or other data across a network. It is one of the oldest recognized types of social media. The BBS was originally an electronic version of the type of bulletin board that can be found on the wall in many kitchens and offices. It was intended to exchange simple messages between users. (Jack Sockol) -
Period: to
1980-1990 Events
Social Media History Events between 1980 and 1990 -
Exec PC
Bulletin board system that allowed you to send messages and post things and message people instantly. (Kelsey Hosey) -
Fidonet
This was a way to connect with others instantly and mostly used for group chats. (Kelsey Hosey) -
The WELL
Acronym for the whole earth electronic link. It is a type of internet forum and provides email shell accounts and a web page. (Kelsey Hosey) -
America Online
American web portal based out of New York City. (Kelsey Hosey) -
Instant Reply Chat
This was used for mostly group chats and discussions could be private messages between people. This was a way to receive messages from someone instantly. (Kelsey Hosey) -
Period: to
1990-2000 Events
Social Media History Events between 1990 and 2000 -
Classmates
Classmates was launch; classmates helped students find and contact each other online. (Yessenia Asevedo) -
Bolt.com
Bolt.com was started as the first social networking and video website. (Yessenia Asevedo) -
StajlPlejs (Later LunarStorm)
The Swedish social networking website, StajlPlejs. ( Predecessor to LunarStorm) It’s described as the “world’s first social media on the internet” (Yessenia Asevedo) -
Sixdegrees
Sixdegrees.com is created. This is a social networking website and the first social media site. (Yessenia Asevedo) -
Yahoo
Yahoo! Messenger launches; a popular instant messaging service. (Yessenia Asevedo) -
LiveJournal
LiveJournal is an early blogging platform. (Yessenia Asevedo) -
Lunar Storm Launches
One of the first commercial advertisement financed social networking websites. Also based in Sweeden. (Tayvein Brooks) -
Period: to
2000-2010 Events
Social Media History Events between 2000 and 2010 -
Friendster
Built in Malaysia used as a social network website. Also used for dating, events, bands, and as a hobby discovery website.(Tayvein Brooks) -
MySpace
The big name in social media at the time. On this website you were able to customize your profile as well as upload music and videos. (Tayvein Brooks) -
Facebook For All
Now the most popular social networking website in the world. Originally launching in 2004. At the start of the site only college kids could join. In September of 2006 they opened the platform to everyone with a legit email who was over 13 years old. Also creating the popular “New Feed”.(Tayvein Brooks) -
Justin.Tv
Birth of amateur live streaming videos. This allowed anyone to live-stream and broadcast themselves online.(Tayvein Brooks) -
Sina Weibo
A Chinese microblogging website launches. Now one of the largest
social media platforms in China. (Tayvein Brooks) -
The Emoji: Unicode Adopts a Language
In 2010, Unicode officially adopted the emoji and it rose to popularity internationally. It was first introduced in 1999 by creator Shigetaka Kurita; however, 2010 saw its adaption as an internationally expressive language. With just the tap of a comical face sticker, people can express very clear emotions (genuinely or disingenuously), and thus connect quickly and effectively. The emoji was quickly added to the social platforms that followed. (Olivia Montgomery) -
Instagram: Life 2.0
One of the most popular social media sites in which users could carefully craft and present whatever they wished their lives to be. Images would be posted to a person’s account with a caption and likes would be shared. Built-in filters allowed for the presentation of life 2.0; an representation of an individual’s best moments. Instagram is used for many other purposes: marketing, shopping, creating videos, keeping up with news and much more. (Olivia Montgomery) -
Pinterest: If You Like It, Pin It!
As a platform, it offered images, categories, and ideas from almost every aspect of life that users could view, save, shop, and “pin” to personalized boards. Many people used Pinterest for its privacy; boards and pins could be saved and kept private, solely for the amusement and entertainment of the individual user. Boards could also be made public, and many people used Pinterest’s features to creatively demonstrate their own styles and ideas, inspiring others along the way. (Olivia Montgomery) -
Period: to
2010-2020 Events
Social Media History Events between 2010 and 2020. -
Snapchat: A Disappearing Act
Snapchat became popular in 2011 due to its “disappearing act”. It was developed by Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, and Reggie Brown. Snapchat messages and stories were set to disappear immediately (with an alternative setting causing messages and stories to stick around before disappearing after 24 hours). The app was aimed at teens, since the privacy and impermanence of the messaging allowed for a sense of secrecy that appealed to this age group. (Olivia Montgomery) -
The Fake News Crisis: Misinformation Overload
The 2016 presidential election was one of the most contentious in history and throughout the election race false new articles, uncredited sources, and blatant informational falsehoods were spread relatively unchecked. Misinformation was fed into every social media platform, news outlet, and entertainment source. Later it was revealed that Russian agents had a hand in the misinformation. The crisis has since sparked a rise in fact checking and platform information monitoring. (Olivia Montgomery)