The History of the Internet

The Creation of ARPANET (First Network)

Oct 29, 1969

The Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) was developed by the U.S. Department of Defense. It became the first network to use packet-switching technology, which laid the groundwork for the modern internet. On this date, ARPANET sent its first message between two computers at UCLA and the Stanford Research Institute. Here is a brief video explaining more.

First Email Sent

1971

Ray Tomlinson, a computer engineer, sent the first electronic mail over ARPANET, marking the birth of modern electronic communication. He used the @ symbol to separate the username from the computer name, revolutionizing how we communicate.

TCP/IP Protocol Adapted (Birth of the Modern Internet)

Jan 1, 1983

ARPANET fully switched to the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP protocol) on this day. TCP/IP became the standard for how data is sent across networks, marking the official start of the modern internet as we know it.

Tim Berners-Lee Proposes the World Wide Web

Mar 12, 1989

While working at CERN, British scientist Tim Berners-Lee proposed the concept of the World Wide Web, a system for sharing information via hypertext links. This idea transformed the internet into a more user-friendly space. Here is an article that reflects on the 35th anniversary of Tim Berners-Lee’s World Wide Web and its global impact.

Launch of the First Website

Aug 6, 1991

The first website, info.cern.ch, created by Tim Berners-Lee, went live at CERN, providing information about the World Wide Web project. It explained what the World Wide Web was and how to use it, making the internet accessible to everyone.

Introduction of Mosaic, the First Graphical Web Browser

Nov 11, 1993

Mosaic 1.0 was officially released, making the web more accessible with its graphical user interface. The Mosaic browser made it easy for non-experts to navigate the web by allowing them to click on links and view images alongside text. It was a significant step in popularizing the web.

Launch of Amazon

Jul 16, 1995

Amazon.com officially opened for business as an online bookstore, eventually expanding into e-commerce.

Launch of eBay

Sep 3, 1995

eBay, initially called AuctionWeb, was launched as an online auction marketplace. E-commerce took off with the launch of eBay, as the platform allowed users to buy and sell products online, changing the way people shopped.

Hotmail Launches the First Free Web-Based Email Service

Jul 4, 1996

Hotmail was introduced, providing users with free, accessible email accounts. Hotmail was accessible from any internet-connected device, and became one of the first web-based email services, leading to widespread use of personal email.

Google Founded

Sep 4, 1998

Larry Page and Sergey Brin formally incorporated Google as a company. Its search engine used a unique algorithm to rank web pages, transforming how people searched for information online. If you want to hear more, here is a podcast episode where the co-founders discuss the story of Google’s early days and its transformation into a global tech giant.

Launch of Wikipedia

Jan 15, 2001

Wikipedia went live, enabling the creation of a user-edited, collaborative online encyclopedia. It allowed anyone to contribute to the knowledge base, quickly becoming one of the most visited sites on the web.

Skype Launched

Aug 29, 2003

Skype officially launched, offering free voice calls over the internet. Skype changed how people communicated across long distances and enabled global conversations.

Facebook Launches

Feb 4, 2004

Facebook (initially called "The Facebook") was initially launched exclusively for Harvard University students. Facebook revolutionized social networking by allowing users to connect, share content, and interact in ways never seen before.

YouTube Goes Live

Feb 14, 2005

YouTube's domain was registered, and the site officially launched for video sharing and watching. It quickly became a hub for user-generated content and transformed media consumption.

Twitter Launched

Mar 21, 2006

Jack Dorsey sent the first tweet, marking the launch of Twitter. Twitter introduced the concept of microblogging, where users could share thoughts and updates in 140 characters or less. It became a key platform for real-time communication and news. Click here to read Dorsey's tweet that started it all.

Launch of the iPhone

Jun 29, 2007

Apple released the first iPhone, revolutionizing the mobile internet experience. Apple's iPhone revolutionized smartphones, giving users a seamless internet browsing experience on a handheld device. This marked the beginning of widespread mobile internet usage.

Instagram Launched

Oct 6, 2010

Instagram was launched as a photo-sharing app on the iOS platform. It became one of the most popular platforms for social networking and visual storytelling.

Snapchat Launched

Sep 1, 2011

Snapchat officially launched, introducing the concept of disappearing messages and stories, appealing to a younger audience and influencing the way content is shared on social media.

Mobile Internet Usage Surpasses Desktop

2015

Global mobile internet usage exceeded desktop for the first time, reflecting a shift in how people accessed the web.

Zoom Becomes the Default Platform During the Pandemic

2020

With the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoom became the go-to platform for video conferencing worldwide. Zoom became essential for remote work, education, and socializing, as it allowed people to communicate via video conferencing.

ChatGPT and AI-Powered Language Models Go Mainstream

Nov 30, 2022

ChatGPT, an advanced AI language model, gained widespread use for tasks like writing, customer service, and creative work, marking a new era in human-computer interaction.