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Created by Andrew Weinreich, Six Degrees was the first modern social network where users could create profiles and connect with friends.
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Developed by Jonathan Abrams, it was one of the first popular social networks, allowing people to connect and share content. -
Developed by Jonathan Abrams, it was one of the first popular social networks, allowing people to connect and share content. -
Mark Zuckerberg, along with Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes, launched Facebook initially as a social network for Harvard students. Its clean design, privacy controls, and “like” feature attracted users rapidly, and it expanded globally. Facebook transformed social media with continuous innovations and acquisitions, including Instagram and WhatsApp. -
Created by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim, YouTube was the first platform for uploading and sharing videos freely with the public. It revolutionized video content, allowing anyone to become a creator. Google acquired YouTube in 2006, enabling it to grow into one of the most visited sites worldwide. -
Founded by Jack Dorsey, Biz Stone, Evan Williams, and Noah Glass, Twitter introduced a unique format with short messages called “tweets,” limited initially to 140 characters. This simplicity made it ideal for real-time updates, news, and public conversations, establishing Twitter as a key platform for social movements, politics, and breaking news. -
Created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, Instagram offered an easy way to share and edit photos with filters, attracting users with its visually appealing format. It quickly gained popularity and was acquired by Facebook in 2012. Instagram's focus on visuals made it influential in shaping modern digital culture and brand marketing. -
Founded by Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, and Reggie Brown, Snapchat introduced the idea of ephemeral messaging, where messages disappear after being viewed. Its “Stories” feature, where users share photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours, was later adopted by platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Snapchat remains popular for its filters and augmented reality features. -
Launched in China as Douyin by Zhang Yiming, founder of ByteDance, TikTok was introduced internationally in 2018. It allows users to create and share short, engaging videos with music, filters, and effects. TikTok became incredibly popular among young users, influencing music, culture, and entertainment trends worldwide. -
As social media matured, platforms began focusing on live, interactive content to engage users. Features like Instagram Live, Facebook Live, and YouTube Live became essential during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing people to connect in real time, from live events to personal interactions.