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With the introduction of MIT's Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) for the first time multiple users were able to log into a central system from remote dial-up terminals. Users now had the ability to store and share files on the central disk.
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The CBBS is a virtual system where users could post public messages akin to an office cork board. Built to utilize MODEM file transfer protocol, CBBS was created to fill a specific need--informing the groups other members of their group about meetings and important announcements without placing dozens of phone calls.
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CompuServe was the first major commercial online service in the United States. By the mid-1980s CompuServe was one of the largest information and networking services companies in existence and it was the largest consumer information service in the world.
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IRC (Internet Relay Chat) was developed and used for file sharing, link sharing and otherwise keeping in touch. IRC was mostly UNIX-based though, limiting access for most people.
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Geocities was one of the first social networking sites. In its original form, site users selected a "city" in which to place their web pages. The "cities" were named after real cities or regions according to their content.
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What is unique about a wiki is how it relies on collaboration for the public. A wiki enables communities to write documents collaboratively, using a simple markup language and a web browser. Many wikis are open to alteration by the general public and edits can be made in real-time and appear almost instantly online. The most popular Wikipedia was introduced in 2001.
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ICQ was developed in the mid-90s and was the first instant messaging program for PCs.
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AOL instant messaging was introduced and was a platform allowing for instant real time messaging with other users. Though mostly limited to friends you actually knew, IM's system of short, rapid correspondences had no small impact on the proliferation of online communities.
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Blogs made websites interactive. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. Most blogs are interactive, allowing visitors to leave comments.
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Six Degrees was one of the first social network services allowing profiles and listing friendships. It was named after the six degrees of separation concept and allowed users to list friends, family members and acquaintances both on the site and externally. Users could send messages and post bulletin board items to people in their first, second, and third degrees, and see their connection to any other user on the site.
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LiveJournal started in 1999 and took a different approach to social networking. While Six Degrees allowed users to create a basically-static profile, LiveJournal was a social network built around constantly-updated blogs. LiveJournal encouraged its users to follow one another and to create groups and otherwise interact.
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Players interact both in the game world and on related forums and community sites.
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Friendster was really the first modern social network. The service allowed users to contact other members, maintain those contacts, and share online content and media with those contacts. The website was also used for dating and discovering new events, bands, and hobbies. Users could share videos, photos, messages and comments.
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Photobucket is an image hosting, video hosting, slideshow creation and photo sharing website. Photobucket allows users to share photos publically or in password-protected albums.
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LinkedIn was founded in 2003 and was one of the first mainstream social networks devoted to business.
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Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chats over the Internet.
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MySpace differentiated itself from competitors by allowing users to completely customize the look of their profiles. Users could also post music from artists on MySpace and embed videos from other sites on their profiles.
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Delicious is a social bookmarking site allowing its users to bookmark any content they find online, tag that content, and then share it with other users.
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Flickr is an image hosting and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community. One of Flickr’s major advantages is that they allow users to license their photos through Creative Commons.
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Facebook is the most widely used social networking service. Users can create profiles with photos, lists of personal interests, contact information, and other personal information. Users can communicate with friends and other users through private or public messages and a chat feature. They can also create and join interest groups and "like pages".
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YouTube was the first major video hosting and sharing site.
Users can upload videos and share them through YouTube or by embedding them on other websites -
Twitter allows users to instantly provide status updates which has become the new norm in social networking. Twitter is a 140-character limit, instant-message, micro-blogging system.
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Ustream is a website which provides a platform for lifecasting and live video streaming of events online. Ustream allows viewers to post comments and ask questions directly to the feed host during live broadcasts, and this interactivity often engages users to a greater extent than other video sites.
