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Transmission Control Protocol & Internet Protocol Adopted
Established a universal languages for computers, allowing them to all connect seamlessly. -
Internet Relay Chat
Introduced real-time text communication laying the groundwork for chat-based platforms. -
World Wide Web Launched
Freed up the access to information world-wide. -
Mosaic Web Browser Developed
The Mosaic Web Browser allowed images and multimedia to travel across the web, increasing user accessibility. -
GeoCities Launched
Allowed users to create personal webpages, which was an early form of self-expression -
SixDegrees Launched
First recognizable social networking platform, allowing users to create profiles and friend lists. -
Zeran vs. AOL
This ruling made it so that platforms were not liable for user-generated content. -
Google Developed
When Google launched it revolutionized information retrieval and indexing. This was a huge technology development and began the shift the timeline towards social media popularity. -
Blogger Launched
Enabled users to post blogs with time stamps. -
Livejournal Launched
Social networking service launched where user's could create a blog, a diary, or journal. -
Y2k and the dot-com Era
The .com era saw widespread internet growth everywhere, paving the way for social platforms to flourish down the road. -
Friendster Launches
A social network gaming site, allowing users to play online games, send messages, share videos and pictures, as well as leave comments. -
MySpace was Launched
Introduced customizable profiles, allowing friends to connect to one another, and do things such as share blog posts, music, and other updates. -
LinkedIn Launched
Launched as a platform for professional networking -
CAN-SPAM Act
Regulated email marketing, setting standards for digital communication -
Facebook Launched
A social networking platform focusing on authentic identity and introducing algorithmic feeds. Included the news feed on top of the regular social networking aspect. -
YouTube emerges
This platform transformed video-sharing by enabling user generated video-content. Was widely popular, and transformed content forever. -
Reddit Launched
An online social media platform where users could share news stories as well as other content. Allowed up and downvotes to get popular content to the top of the algorithm. -
Twitter Launched
This platform revolutionized micro-blogging, allowing users 140-character "tweets" and popularized hashtags. -
The iPhone Launched
The launch of the iPhone was hugely transformational in the social media timeline, as now everyone had the chance at constant portable internet access. -
Instagram Launched
This platform emphasized photo sharing and streamlined editing tools into the app. This platform really helped to launch the "Influencer" culture that is still popular to this day. -
Cloud Computing Gains Momentum
When cloud computing gained momentum as a new technology, it enabled vast storage and management of user-generated content. -
Snapchat Launched
Launched as a platform to share photos with your friends. Unlike traditional platforms, this was launched with the intent to post and share silly, or more real photos with your friends, instead of being another app that alters your photos. -
Twitch Launched
A platform allowing users to livestream games on, which later on moved to allowing streaming of more than just games, and is still growing in popularity to this day. -
Vine Launched
This platform launched promoting short form video, with a 6 second limit for users to create videos. This platform, while short-lived, paved a new path for short-form content. -
FTC Updates Guidelines
This update addressed transparency in influencers marketing and endorsing products. -
Musical.ly Launched
A platform allowing users to view and post 15 second video clips, but also allowing them different songs to add as soundtracks to the videos. This app helped to popularize many trends. -
AI-driven algorithms Improve
With the improvement of these algorithms, influencing user feeds on many platforms across social media. -
TikTok Launched
TikTok launched (previously known as Musical.ly) was a platform very similar to Musical.ly, but became extremely popular, and helped to further popularize the "influencer" culture that is prevalent today. -
GDPR goes into Effect
The GDPR established the obligations of data controllers and of those processing personal data on their behalf. This was a protection taken by the EU to hold the companies accountable for the Data processing that they perform. -
Metaverse Concept Popularized
The concept of a virtual/augmented reality for immersive experiences for customers gained notoriety and companies started investing in these technologies. -
Digital Services Act passed
The EU passed the Digital Services Act holding platforms accountable for harmful content on the platform and although controversial was meant to enhance user protections.