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Major Launches in Social Media History

  • The First Social Media Site Launched

    The First Social Media Site Launched
    Back in 1997, the very first social media site is born. A site called SixDegrees.com was created and allowed users to build a profile, make lists of connections and send direct messages between networks. After the site gained roughly one million users, it was then bought out for $125 million in 2000. SixDegrees.com eventually made a comeback and still is around today.
  • Are You Hot or Not? - Site Launched

    Are You Hot or Not? - Site Launched
    This social media application was released in in the year 2000 with the intent that users submit photos of themselves and other users on the app would rate their attractiveness. The Hot or Not app was said to have an influence on the founders of Facebook and Youtube. In 2014, after being sold off multiple times, the new owners tried to revive it as a "game".
  • Friendster is Released

    Friendster is Released
    In 2002, Friendster was launched. This site's original purpose was to be a dating site that would help people find mutual friends. Users could set up a profile, post "status updates" and let followers know your mood. It was also common to message with "friends of friends of friends".
  • The Social Site, Myspace is created

    The Social Site, Myspace is created
    Myspace was launched in 2003 and quickly became a rival of Friendster. This site allowed users to create customized public profiles. Photos that were uploaded were often poorly filmed videos and half naked selfies, which were also available for anyone to view. These contrasted Friendster's private profiles.
  • Website Hi5 Launched

    Website Hi5 Launched
    The site Hi5 was released and allowed users to create a public profile and share personal information. Users could send friend requests through e-mail, which would then be either accepted or denied. On Hi5, users could play games weekly.
  • Facebook is Launched

    Facebook is Launched
    Facebook is launched
  • Twitter is Launched

    Twitter is Launched
    Twitter is a social networking site that enables users to post content, like and retweet other posts. By the year 2012, over 100 million users posted 340 million tweets in a day.
  • The site LinkedIn is Released

    The site LinkedIn is Released
    The social networking, business oriented site LinkedIn was founded. LinkedIn was the first site to offer paid premium packages. Just three years after its release, LinkedIn finally turned a profit.
  • Tumblr

    Tumblr
    The American microblogging and social networking site is founded by 17-year-old David Karp. Karp launched Tumblr from his bedroom in his mother's apartment in New York.This site enables users to post various media content in short-form blog and also follow other users' blogs.
  • Weibo is Launched

    Weibo is Launched
    Another microblogging site is released, a hybrid of Facebook and Twitter. Weibo was launched in 2009 from China. This same year Facebook and Twitter were banned in the country.
  • Farmville

    Farmville
    The popular social game, Farmville, was launched. Users on Facebook were able to engage in an agriculture-simulation social networking game. This game also involved things like farmland management, raising livestock and logging in to keep up on your chores.
  • Grindr

    Grindr
    Grindr was the first geosocial networking app for dating intended for gay and bisexual men. This site aided them meet others on the site nearby. Grindr paved the way for other networking apps such as Growlr, Tinder and Chappy.
  • Instagram

    Instagram
    Instagram hit the app store and was founded in 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. This app changed the game and users are able to post, like, and share content to their timeline. Users are also able to make their profile either public or private. Today, the billion Instagram users around the world post more than 95 million posts each day.
  • Pinterest

    Pinterest
    Pinterest has been referred to as "digital crack for women" as it is a social bookmarking site. Pinterest enables users to save and pin different content according to different lifestyles or interests.
  • Snapchat

    Snapchat
    Snapchat was launched just a year after Instagram. This app let users share content that would disappear after 24 hours. These vanishing snapchats appealed to the teen generation and was also a great alternative for them to find friends.
  • Keek

    Keek
    Keek was launched and allowed users to post video status updates, keeks. Users could log on via mobile phone or using a webcam and also reply back with a text or video comments.
  • Twitch Launch

    Twitch Launch
    Twitch, an American video live streaming site that lets users stream various sorts of content like music, sports, video games and "in real life" streams.
  • Tinder is Launched

    Tinder is Launched
    Tinder is an online dating and geosocial networking application where users can anonymously swipe right or left (like or dislike) on other user's profiles. Each user's profile includes a few pictures, a bio paragraph and a list of interests or hobbies.
  • Vine

    Vine
    Vine is an American social networking video hosting service. Users can post six second, short-form videos to their timeline and other users are able to like and comment on them. By 2015, Vine had over 200 million active users.
  • The Re-Launch of Myspace

    The Re-Launch of Myspace
    Myspace re-launches and comes out with a brand new re-designed website and mobile app.
  • Musical.ly is Launched

    Musical.ly is Launched
    Musical.ly is the social media service that users could share short lip-synced videos. The videos are 15-second to 1 minute videos and users can select music tracks to pair with the videos. Musical.ly also allowed users to browse popular "musers", content, trending sounds and interact with followers.
  • Launch of Periscope

    Launch of Periscope
    Periscope is an American live video streaming app for iOS and Android developed by Kayvon Beykpour.
  • Beme

    Beme
    Beme is a mobile app that was founded by Matt Hacket and Casey Neistat. Beme was designed as an alternative to over edited content found in social media. This app allows users to produce unedited two to eight second videos that are then shared with the user's subscribers.
  • Discord Launch

    Discord Launch
    Discord is a VoIP, instant messaging and digital distribution platform. This site enables users to connect via voice calls, video calls, direct messaging, media and files in private chats of part of "server" communities.
  • TikTok is Launched

    TikTok is Launched
    TikTok is a social networking app owned by ByteDance Ltd. This app allows users to post videos to their feed and other users can like, comment and share those short-formed entertainment videos.