Key Events in the History of Social Media (1900–2000):

By Abea1129

  • 1900s: Early Communication Technologies

    Telegraph and Telephone: These early forms of communication allowed people to send messages quickly over long distances.
    Fun Fact: The telegraph, developed in the 1830s and 1840s, was one of the first technologies that laid the foundation for future social networks.

  • ARPANET

    ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) was the first real network to run on packet switching, a technology that became the foundation for the internet.
    It connected universities and government research labs in the U.S., allowing people to share data and messages.

  • First Email Sent

    Ray Tomlinson sent the first email over ARPANET. The email was a test message, but it was revolutionary because it allowed people to communicate through computers.
    This was the birth of one of the most commonly used forms of digital communication.

  • Bulletin Board System (BBS)

    BBS allowed users to connect via telephone lines and share messages, files, and games with each other.
    It was a precursor to internet forums and social networking.

  • Usenet

    Usenet was a global discussion system that allowed users to post public messages across different categories (newsgroups).
    It was similar to today's internet forums and was widely used by computer enthusiasts and researchers.

  • IRC (Internet Relay Chat)

    IRC allowed people to chat in real-time using text. It was one of the first systems for group chats and private messaging.
    IRC is still used today for niche chat groups and was the foundation for modern instant messaging.

  • The World Wide Web (WWW)

    Tim Berners-Lee introduced the World Wide Web, making the internet more accessible with hypertext and easy-to-use web browsers.
    Websites and online communities began to emerge, which made digital interaction more widespread.

  • Six Degrees

    One of the first true social networking sites, Six Degrees allowed users to create profiles, friend each other, and send messages.
    It is often considered the first modern social media platform.

  • The Rise of Blogging (LiveJournal, Blogger)

    Blogging platforms like LiveJournal and Blogger allowed users to write and share personal stories, news, and opinions with a broader audience.
    Blogs were an early form of user-generated content that allowed for interaction through comments and links.