The Rise of the Internet and Social Media Since 2015

By klynmcclellan@gmail.com

  • FACEBOOK AT WORK APP

    Facebook is still the top social media site and has launched "At Work" app to keep business teams connected
    It also introduces improvements to the Buy and Sell feature by allowing users to mark posts at "available" or "sold."

  • LINKEDIN and LINKEDIN PREMUIM

    Puts limits on the number of profiles recruiters can see unless they purchase LinkedIn Premium.

  • SNAPCHAT adds DISCOVER

    Snapchat introduces a new feature called "discover" allowing users to explore high traction content or content near them from people they are not friends with.

  • TWITTER adds VIDEOS

    Improves the social experience by adding group message features and allowing users to post videos of 30 seconds or shorter.

  • FACEBOOK adds VR TECHNOLOGY

    This is the year that Mark Zuckerberg acquired Oculus, a virtual reality company. VR technology begins to be seen on Facebook in the form of the 360 Video

  • INSTAGRAM and BUY BUTTONS

    Instagram launches its in-post buy buttons which allows its users to make purchases without ever leaving their feeds.

  • SLACK

    Slack was the first version of a social media site totally devoted to networking within the work place.

  • PINTEREST adds VISUAL SEARCH

    Pinterest launches its "visual search" tool that allows its users to search similar content not with words but with images.

  • FACEBOOK and INTEREST TARGETING

    Updates its ad marketing to include interest targeting. Have you ever noticed that if you search for one item, let say, a bathing suit, suddenly your Facebook is saturated in ads for swim suits? Well, you can thank this innovation.

  • INSTAGRAM adds STORIES

    Introduces their "stories" feature where people are able to share content that is only available for 24 hours.

  • SNAPCHAT and FILTERS

    Snapchat launches sponsored "world lenses" that allow users to participate in world events together.

  • FACEBOOK adds KIDS MESSENGER

    Facebook ads a kid friendly version of Facebook Messenger called Messenger Kids.

  • FACEBOOK changes FEED ALGORITHM

    Facebook changes the way content shows up in your Facebook feed to make sure that organic content and posts are showing up more often than ads and sponsored content, allowing its users to avoid being bombarded with ads.

  • INSTAGRAM adds TV

    Instagram launches a feature called IGTV that allows video creators to publish their content and easily be discovered by users.

  • TIKTOK

    Though TikTok has existed since 2015, it wasn't until 2018 that it finally became a major player in the social media arena ranking among the top three social video apps.

  • FACEBOOK and PRIVACY

    Facebook shifts focus to closed and private groups, and direct messaging, as well as revamping their privacy options for users.

  • INSTAGRAM hides LIKES

    In an effort to ease social competition on the platform, Instagram did its first test on making like counts private. Only the user is able to see how many likes they received on a post. This was not rolled out in every location, but done in a few test locations.

  • TIKTOK is KID FRIENDLY

    TikTok adds a new version of the app that is meant for kids, complete with parental controls and added privacy.