History of the Internet

By Manmeet
  • ARPANET Established

    ARPANET Established
    The United States Department of Defense established the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET). It was the first operational packet-switching network and gave rise to the internet of today.
  • First Email Sent

    Ray Tomlinson sent the first ever email via ARPANET. He used the "@" sign to show the mail address.
  • TCP/IP Protocol Introduced

    Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn published a paper on the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP). These protocols are known as the fundamental rules of ARPANET and the modern internet.
  • Domain Name System (DNS) Implemented

    The DNS was developed to establish a system of naming on the internet. The names involve typical domains such as .com, .org, and .edu.
  • World Wide Web Proposed

    Tim Berners-Lee proposed a method of sharing information via hypertext. With this, the World Wide Web was created.
  • First Web Browser Released

    Mosaic was the first commercially available web browser. It popularized the web by making it easy to use.
  • Amazon Founded

    Amazon.com was first an internet bookstore but rapidly became one of the largest shopping sites on the internet.
  • Wi-Fi Standardized

    The IEEE approved the 802.11 standard. This led to Wi-Fi technology being applied across the board for internet connectivity.
  • Google Founded

    Google was founded, developing a powerful search engine that revolutionized the way people search for information online.
  • Dot-com Bubble Bursts

    A bubble in internet firms burst, resulting in enormous losses of money and the collapse of numerous internet businesses.
  • Wikipedia Launched

    Wikipedia, a free, user-editable online encyclopedia, was launched, becoming one of the largest knowledge holders on the internet.
  • Facebook Founded

    Facebook was created and became the largest social network sites, revolutionizing the way people connected online.
  • YouTube Launched

    YouTube was created so that users could upload, share, and view videos. YouTube became an incredibly popular internet site.
  • Bitcoin Introduced

    Bitcoin is the first-ever decentralized virtual currency. Bitcoin started blockchain technology and virtual money.
  • iPhone Released

    Apple introduced the iPhone, combining a phone, iPod, and internet communicator, revolutionizing mobile internet access.
  • Instagram Launched

    Instagram, a photo and video-sharing social networking service, was launched, influencing visual content sharing online.
  • Edward Snowden's NSA Revelations

    Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden leaked classified information revealing global surveillance programs, starting debates on privacy and security.
  • Net Neutrality Repealed in the U.S.

    The Federal Communications Commission voted to eliminate net neutrality rules. The rules regulate how internet companies manage web traffic.
  • GDPR Enforced

    The European General Data Protection Regulation was created to protect the data and privacy of people of the EU.
  • COVID-19 Pandemic Accelerates Digital Transformation

    The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. This caused users to rely more on the internet for work, education, and communication with one another. It accelerated digital transformation across numerous sectors.