📜 Early Foundations (1970s–1990s)
- 1973: Talkomatic launches—one of the first real-time chat systems.
- 1978–1980: Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) and Usenet emerge, enabling message sharing and discussion threads.
- 1997: SixDegrees.com introduces profiles and friend lists—often considered the first true social network.
🌐 Rise of Social Networking (2000s)
- 2003: MySpace and LinkedIn launch—MySpace for personal expression, LinkedIn for professional networking.
- 2004: Facebook begins at Harvard, quickly expanding globally.
- 2006: Twitter debuts, popularizing microblogging and hashtags.
📱 Mobile & Visual Era (2010s)
- 2010: Instagram launches, emphasizing photo sharing and filters.
- 2011: Snapchat introduces ephemeral messaging.
- 2016: TikTok (originally Musical.ly) gains traction with short-form video content.
🤖 Algorithmic & AI-Driven Platforms (2020s–2025)
- 2023: Threads launches as a text-based alternative to Twitter.
- Platforms increasingly focus on algorithmic personalization, AI-generated content, and engagement optimization.
- 2025: Australia introduces age restrictions for under-16s on platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.