History of the Internet

Harvard Mark I - The first computer

1944

Used for complex mathematical computations, the first computers, massive and weighing several tons, were not connected.

ARPA

1957

Launched in response to Sputnik, ARPA worked alongside NASA as computers began to miniaturize and have more practical uses.

ARPANET

1968

$563,000 built the first connection between computers at 4 American universities, called ARPANET. Computers began to be thought of as stations in an intergalactic community.

Personal computer introduced

1984

The personal computer gained popularity and started being more practical. However, it was still only primarily used for design, calculations and as a database.

World Wide Web created

1993

Using HTTP and client/server software, the World Wide Web used the Internet as an infrastructure to support web browsers, which decoded Internet data into graphics, text and sounds. The introduction of the Web as we know it today.

Broadband services

1996

The first broadband service in North America hit Canada, speeding up the Web and making it more accessible to the public.

Google launched

1997

This was the beginning of social media as we know it. Along with Google, SixDegrees was also launched. This was the first modern social media network.

MySpace, LinkedIn

2003

Facebook, YouTube

2005

Twitter

2006

By this time, the social media wrecking ball was in full swing.

Tumblr

2007

Instagram, Pinterest

2010