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BBS
Bulletin Board System-online meeting places that were effectively independently-produced hunks of code that allowed users to communicate with a central system where they could download files or games and post messages to other users. -
Period: to
The Infant Years
BBS, AOL and CompuServe -
CompuServe
business-oriented mainframe computer communication solution; allowed members to share files and access news and events. -
Microsoft Corporation
Founded in Albuquerque, NM -
Apple
Founded in Cupertino, CA -
AOL(America Online)
AOL was the Internet before the Internet, and its member-created communities were arguably the service’s most fascinating, forward-thinking feature. -
Period: to
The Internet Boom
Social Networking’s Adolescence -
Amazon
Founded in Seattle, WA -
Yahoo
Just set up shop. -
ebay
Founded in San Jose, CA -
SixDegrees.com
Sporting a name based on the theory somehow associated with actor Kevin Bacon that no person is separated by more than six degrees from another; was one of the very first to allow its users to create profiles, invite friends, organize groups, and surf other user profiles. -
AsianAvenue.com
product of Community Connect Inc. -
Netflix
Founded in Scotts Valley, CA -
Google
Founded in Menlo Park, CA -
Period: to
The Biz Grows Up
Friendster, LinkedIn, MySpace and Facebook -
Friendster
Friendster used a degree of separation concept similar to that of the now-defunct SixDegrees.com, refined it into a routine dubbed the “Circle of Friends,” and promoted the idea that a rich online community can exist only between people who truly have common bonds. And it ensured there were plenty of ways to discover those bonds. -
LinkedIn
took a decidedly more serious, sober approach to the social networking phenomenon. Rather than being a mere playground for former classmates, teenagers, and cyberspace Don Juans, LinkedIn was, and still is, a networking resource for business people who want to connect with other professionals. In fact, LinkedIn contacts are referred to as “connections.” Today, LinkedIn boasts more than 297 million members. -
Myspace
MySpace was once the perennial favorite. It did so by tempting the key young adult demographic with music, music videos, and a funky, feature-filled environment. It looked and felt hipper than major competitor Friendster right from the start, and it conducted a campaign of sorts in the early days to show alienated Friendster users just what they were missing. -
Facebook
Founded by university students at Harvard and Harvard-only students for 2 years until going public. -
Youtube
Launched in San Mateo, ca -
Twitter
Launched in San Francisco, CA -
Pinterest
Launched -
Instagram
Launched -
Snapchat
Launched -
Facebook Messenger
Initial release date -
VIne
Launched
