-
1960
The birth of ARPANET: The precursor to the internet, ARPANET, was developed by the U.S. Department of Defense's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA).
https://www.darpa.mil/about-us/timeline/arpanet -
1969
The first message sent: On October 29, 1969, the first message was sent over ARPANET, connecting two computers at Stanford University and UCLA.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2019/10/29/first-internet-message-sent-50-years-ago-ucla-using-darpa/4062337002/ -
1970
Growth and development: ARPANET continued to expand, connecting more research institutions. https://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/courses/soco/projects/distributed-computing/html/history.html -
1973
The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP) were developed, laying the foundation for modern internet communication. https://www.techtarget.com/searchnetworking/definition/TCP?Offer=abMeterCharCount_var2 -
1980
The Domain Name System and email systems became integral to internet communication.
https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/what-is-dns#:~:text=DNS%20Definition,devices%20to%20locate%20the%20device. -
1983
Transition to TCP/IP: ARPANET officially switched to using TCP/IP, marking the birth of the modern internet. -
1989
Tim Berners-Lee proposed the World Wide Web, a system to organize and access information on the internet.
https://webfoundation.org/ -
1990
Tim Berners-Lee created the first web page and browser. -
Late 1990s
Dot-com boom: The internet saw a surge of investment, leading to the dot-com boom and the growth of e-commerce.
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/dotcom-bubble.asp -
1993
The Mosaic web browser was released, making the web more accessible. -
1995
The National Science Foundation Network was decommissioned, and commercial ISPs started to provide internet access
https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=103050 -
2000
Social media and web 2.0: The emergence of platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and the concept of Web 2.0 transformed online interactions -
2004
Broadband internet became widely available, enabling faster connections and multimedia content.
https://www.centurylink.com/home/help/internet/what-is-broadband.html -
2007
The release of the iPhone revolutionized mobile internet access. -
2010
Cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT): Advances in technology led to cloud services and a proliferation of connected devices. https://www.techtarget.com/searchmobilecomputing/definition/iCloud -
2011
Google+ is launched as a social networking platform. Internet censorship issues gain prominence, notably in countries like China and Iran.
https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/Google-plus -
2012
Introduction of 4G/LTE networks, providing faster mobile internet access. Social media's role in political movements, such as the Arab Spring, becomes evident. https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/markets/digital-identity-and-security/technology/lte -
2013
Edward Snowden leaks reveal extensive government surveillance programs, raising concerns about online privacy. -
2014
"Internet of Things" (IoT) gains traction as more everyday devices become connected. -
2015
Major data breaches and cyberattacks highlight the importance of cybersecurity. Introduction of 5G technology begins, promising even faster wireless internet. -
2016
Growth of streaming services like Netflix and Spotify changes the way people consume media. Augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) technologies, like Oculus Rift, gain attention. -
2017
Social media platforms face criticism over fake news and their role in influencing public opinion. Blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, gains attention. -
2018
The European Union implements the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to protect user data.
This is when voice-activated assistants like Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant come to the internet. -
2019
5G networks start rolling out in various parts of the world, promising faster internet speeds. Continued growth of online retail, with Amazon becoming one of the world's largest companies. -
2020
COVID-19 pandemic accelerates the shift to remote work, education, and telehealth via the internet. -
2021
Continued expansion of cloud computing services and remote collaboration tools. -
2022
Continued focus on online security and privacy, with new regulations and technologies. Internet access becomes more important for education, work, and socializing. -
2023
The growth of metaverse concepts, blending the physical and digital worlds. Ongoing advancements in AI, leading to more personalized online experiences.