In honor of World Social Media Day on June 30th, let us review the timeline of some of its well-known platforms throughout the years.
Six Degrees – 1997
One of the first true social media networks to be created was Six Degrees. The platform allowed you to meet friends based on your common interests.
The site was bought out for $125 million but eventually failed in 2000, though it made a comeback and still exists today. You can check it out here!
Hot or Not – 2000
Hot or Not allowed users to submit photos of themselves so others could rate their attractiveness. The website was said to have played a part in Mark Zuckerberg creating Facemash (developed three years after Hot or Not went live in 2003) and eventually Facebook.
After changing ownership a few times, its new owners tried to revive it as a “game” in 2014. The site is still live today. Seriously! You can view it here.
Friendster – 2002
Friendster was originally going to be a dating site that would set up users with friends they had in common. It allowed you to create a profile, update your status, and even share your mood.
In 2003, the site gained such a large following that it crashed its servers, which impacted the user experience and caused them to connect to other existing social media platforms elsewhere.
Myspace – 2003
This “Place for Friends” was the go-to site for millions of teens, including myself! It allowed them to create customizable public profiles that featured music, videos, and of course the controversial “top 8.”
The platform still stands today but is viewed as the tackier version of Facebook. So, if you are interested in seeing which photos you posted way back when, you still can. Don’t judge your younger self. It’s okay.
LinkedIn – 2003
Also created in 2003, LinkedIn took a more serious approach by creating its social platform for working professionals to use as a networking tool. Aside from posting relevant news in your industry and promoting your professional achievements, you can upload your current resume and apply for jobs right on the platform. Businesses can also create a profile to promote their products and services as well as current job positions.
Facebook – 2004
Starting off as “TheFacebook.com,” Mark Zuckerberg created this platform for Harvard students to communicate but later expanded to most universities throughout the United States and Canada. Then by 2006, anyone with a valid email address and who was at least 13 years of age was able to create a profile on this global network.
Facebook remains one of the most popular social media networks on the planet with over a billion users actively logging on each day to watch videos and stories, post photos, connect with friends and family, view its live streaming feature [Created in 2016], promote their business, or share relevant news articles.
YouTube – 2005
From adorable cats, cooking demos, home improvement tips, product reviews and a whole lot more, this free online video-sharing platform lets you create and share content with viewers all over the globe. It also offers a paid premium service where users can access ad-free content across the service, as well as access to premium YouTube Originals and YouTube Music. It is one of the most popular digital destinations EVER, with visitors watching over 1 billion videos each day.
Did you ever wonder what the first video uploaded on the platform was? Well, here it is. It has over 99 million views!
Twitter – 2006
First known as “Twttr,” this SMS [Short Messaging Service] platform was created for friends to keep tabs on each other with status updates. Now with a 280-character limit [Updated from a 140 limit in 2017], it’s become a source of breaking news and information, allowing users to follow worldly trending topics, utilize hashtags to reach other audiences, follow businesses and celebrity/influencer profiles, all while still staying in touch with friends.
Instagram – 2010
Although selfies were invented long before Instagram, this social media platform definitely changed the way images were portrayed with its creation of the “filtered” picture. Instagram allows users to share “snapshots” of their everyday lives, from a beautiful sunset to an egg that nearly broke the internet.
Over time, the platform transformed by adding the ability to create stories that disappear in 24 hours and share live video content [All launched in 2016], and even added long-form videos on IGTV in 2018 to compete with Youtube.
Pinterest – 2010
Pinterest was created as a space to organize images from all over the internet in a virtual pinboard. According to this recent statistic, 2 million people post pins everyday! The boards can be inspired by anything from food, crafts, home remodeling and decorating ideas, fitness tips, hairstyles, motivational sayings, and even wedding plans.
Google+ – 2011
Also known as Google Plus, this platform started as an invite-only system. It differentiated itself from Facebook with its “circles” for organizing friends and acquaintances that could be done easily without having to send a request. At the end of 2011, services like Gmail and Google Hangout were added but due to the poor timing, it didn’t have the following other social media giants have like Facebook and Twitter. This ultimately led to its eventual demise on April 2, 2019 (somewhere you can hear Wendy and Logan cheering!).
Snapchat – 2011
First released as “Picaboo,” the founders of Snapchat created a new way to share information by allowing it to disappear. They didn’t want their user’s social media history to come back to haunt them in the future.
The site later added stories, a messaging system, Geofilters, lenses, effects, the ability to advertise your business, and stream shows and subscriptions. The site is said to have over 360 million active monthly users with three billion “snaps” taken each day!
TikTok – 2016
First launched in the Chinese market in 2016, TikTok later was introduced to the United States in 2018 and eventually exploded in popularity. Users can film videos of themselves lip-syncing or acting out sketches, as well as performing a “duet” with someone by replying to their video.
It’s said to be the future of social media with its 500 million users and endless video possibilities from our favorite movie clip, popular dance routine, comedy skits, and more! Don’t get FOMO, join in on this popular platform that’s taking social media by storm!
The End …For Now!
Now that we touched on some of the most popular social media sites, celebrate National Social Media Day on June 30th by posting on your favorite platform! Make sure you use the hashtag #SocialMediaDay! And if you need help revamping your social media presence, the ENX2 Crew is here to help! Contact us today at 1-844-ENX2-WEB.