In the span of a few decades, social media has evolved from rudimentary online communities to a cornerstone of modern communication and culture. Everyone with basic access to internet now have one social media account or maybe more.
Sunday marks the World Social Media Day. On this day, we recognize its significant role in transforming the world into the global village it is today. Surprising enough, how the phenomena of social media evolved so much from the time it initially started off in the late 1990s!
Although social media as we know it today began to flourish around 2003, its roots can be traced back to earlier platforms that laid the groundwork for digital communities.
Early internet users were quick to see the potential of this technology for communication.
Bulletin board systems allowed individuals to connect to software hosting public message boards, where news and bulletins were shared with all users, also featuring multiplayer gaming, direct messaging, and chat rooms.
Prodigy was a primitive online service that quickly gained a large following due to its extensive content offerings, including news, weather, messaging boards, stocks, and travel information. Its email system evolved into a popular peer-to-peer messaging tool.
Two other prominent services of that era, America Online (AOL) and CompuServe, grew big and collectively became known as the "Big Three'' due to their large subscriber bases. Their popularity throughout the 1980s and 1990s was ephemeral, leading to their decline in 1998.
Internet Relay Chat (IRC), a form of text-based instant messaging designed for group conversations, remains in use today on servers like Libera Chat and OFTC. However, users gradually shifted to more user-friendly chat options as technology advanced.
Initial wave of social media
Following this pioneering gush of social media, the first social media with futuristic features released: SixDegrees launched in 1997, providing services like profile creation, privacy settings, friend connections, and messaging.
LiveJournal was unconventional as a social media platform, instead pioneering the self-documentation aspect of social media allowing users to create a personal blog, journal or diary and share these posts with their friends and community.
Next came the two social networking sites that took the world by storm.
Firstly, Friendster, launched in 2002, was an early platform akin to modern social media, allowing photo and video sharing, alongside text and link posts. It quickly gained popularity reaching up to 3 million subscribers but struggled to sustain, eventually rebranding as a gaming platform in 2011.
Secondly, MySpace, launched in 2003, quickly became a global sensation and dominated social media from 2005 to 2008, even ranking as the most visited US website in June 2006. Its standout feature was the ability to customize profiles with songs and YouTube videos, popularizing music discovery through MySpace Music. Despite its initial success, MySpace eventually lost ground to Facebook, which surpassed it in monthly visitors by April 2008.
Few social networking sites that tasted an interim hint of success were gaming social platform Habbo (2000), Hi5 (2003) and Bebo in (2005).
New age social media platforms
While numerous social networking sites have faded away gradually, there remains a plethora of social media apps available for contemporary users. Some of them include:
LinkedIn (2003) - A professional networking platform designed for career development, networking, and professional connections.
Facebook (2003) - A social networking platform where users connect with friends, family, and communities to share updates, photos, and videos.
Reddit (2005) - A social news discussion and content rating platform allowing submissions and discussions on content.
Twitter or X (2006) - A microblogging platform sharing short texts called tweets, engaging in real-time conversations on topics of interest.
Instagram (2010)- A social media platform focused on sharing photos and videos, with features like filters, stories, and direct messaging.
Snapchat (2011) - An app for sending disappearing photos and videos, with additional features like stories and AR filters.
Discord (2015) - Used for voice, video, and text communication, particularly in gaming communities, with customizable servers.
TikTok (2017) - A video-sharing social media platform where users create and discover short-form videos set to music and various audio clips.
Fluid transformation of social media
The evolution of social media, from its modest beginnings to today's expansive digital landscape, underscores its profound impact on global communication and societal dynamics.
Initially conceived as platforms for personal connections, social media has metamorphosed into essential arenas for business, brand promotion, and data aggregation.
These digital spaces have not only facilitated the growth of diverse online communities but also empowered local initiatives and connectivity.
With their unparalleled reach and engagement, social media platforms have revolutionized how public figures communicate directly with vast audiences, bypassing traditional media channels.
This rapid evolution highlights the remarkable pace at which social norms have adapted, integrating these platforms into the daily routines of billions worldwide.
Looking ahead, the future promises intriguing developments for the next generation of social media users, poised to shape and redefine digital interactions and societal engagement.
