Timeline of social media


This page is a timeline of social media. Major launches, milestones, and other major events are included.

Timeline

An asterisk indicates relaunches.
YearEvent typeDescription
1973InventionTalkomatic is created by Dave Woolley and Douglas Brown at the University of Illinois, as a multi-user chat room application. It is an instant sensation among users in the PLATO System's online community.
1973InventionTERM-Talk is created by the staff at the Computer-based Education Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois, as an instant-messaging application enabling any two users on the PLATO system to conduct a live, character-by-character typed conversation on the bottom of the screen of their PLTO terminals. Soon many features would be added to it including "Monitor Mode," enabling one user in the TERM-talk to share their own screen with the other user, to ask questions or point out something that they're seeing. Years later this concept would be introduced as "Screen Sharing" or Remote Desktop Software.
1973InventionPLATO Notes is created by 17-year-old student Dave Woolley at the Computer-based Education Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois, as a conferencing and bulletin board forum system for communicating with the user community. In 1976, Notes expanded to enable any user to create a "notesfile" on any subject. PLATO Notes would serve as the inspiration for Lotus Notes developed by former PLATO users Ray Ozzie, Len Kawell, and Tim Halvorsen.
1974InventionARPANET evolved into the Internet following the publication of the first Transmission Control Protocol specification,, written by Vint Cerf, Yogen Dalal and Carl Sunshine.
circa 1980MilestoneBulletin Board System (BBS) emerges as one of the earliest known forms of social media, and remains popular and under development until the late 1990s.
1984InventionFidoNet forms as BBSs start to exchange email in North America and later internationally.
1988InventionIRC rises from the roots of BBS, offering a similar service and experience. It has remained in use to this day.
1995LaunchClassmates.com, originally launched as a list of school affiliations, is launched in December 1995. The site, founded by Randy Conrads, later incorporated features to help former and current classmates find and contact each other online.
1996LaunchThe Swedish social networking website LunarStorm, originally called Stajlplejs, is launched in 1996. The site, founded by Rickard Eriksson, was renamed LunarStorm in 2000 and has been described as "the world's first social media on the Internet" by the founder.
1996LaunchHotline, a chat, bulletin board, and file-sharing program, is released. The Hotline client, with its graphical user interface in contrast to text-based IRC, let users connect to Hotline servers run by individuals and by corporate users like Apple and General Motors.
1996LaunchICQ is released by Israeli company Mirabilis.
1996LaunchBolt.com was started as the first social networking and video website.
1997Launch, MilestoneSocial networking website SixDegrees.com is created.
1998LaunchOpen Diary launches the first social blogging network, inventing the reader comment and friends-only content.
1997LaunchAOL Instant Messenger is released.
1998AcquisitionICQ is acquired by AOL, and the service is patented.
1999AcquisitionSixDegrees.com is purchased by YouthStream Media Networks for $125 million.
1999LaunchYahoo Messenger instant messaging service launches.
1999LaunchMSN Messenger, a messaging, video and voice calling service, launches.
1999LaunchLiveJournal, an early blogging platform and social network, launches.
1999LaunchBlackPlanet, the first social network for the African American community, launches.
2000LaunchSomething Awful, an American comedy website, launches its forums.
2000LaunchHabbo, a game-based social networking site, launches.
2000LaunchFriends Reunited launches, exploiting a gap in the UK market following the success of US website Classmates.com
2001DefunctionSixDegrees.com shuts down.
2001Launch, InventionWindows Messenger is released, and is shipped with Windows XP. This is an integrated version of MSN Messenger.
2001Launch, InventionThe Dutch journalism student Ramon Stoppelenburg launched Letmestayforaday.com as his personal social network, through which he collected invitations from all over the world to travel the world for free for over three years and write daily updates on his website in return.
2002LaunchSocial networking and gaming site Friendster launches. The service would be popular in Asia and the Pacific Islands.
2002LaunchMeetup, a social gathering organization platform, launches.
2003LaunchBusiness-oriented social networking service LinkedIn launches.
2003LaunchSocial networking website Hi5 launches.
2003LaunchThe business-oriented social networking website, XING, launches.
2003Launch4chan, an English-language imageboard, launches.
2003LaunchMyspace launches.
2003LaunchSkype, an instant messaging and video/voice calling service, launches.
2004Launch, MilestoneFacebook, the most popular social networking service to-date, launches.
2004LaunchFlickr, an image and video hosting website, launches.
2004LaunchOrkut, a social networking website owned by Google, launches.
2004LaunchTagged, a social discovery website, launches.
2005LaunchBebo, a social networking website, launches.
2005LaunchYouTube, a video-sharing website, launches.
2005AcquisitionMyspace is acquired by News Corporation for $580 million.
2005LaunchQzone, a Chinese social networking website, launches.
2005LaunchReddit, an American social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website, launches.
2005LaunchRenren, a Chinese social networking website, launches.
2005AcquisitionYahoo acquires Flickr.
2005LaunchFacebook launches its photos feature with no restrictions on storage.
2006LaunchTwitter launches.
2006LaunchVK, a Russian-based social networking service that resembles Facebook, launches.
2006LaunchFacebook launches News Feed. The original news feed is an algorithmically generated and constantly refreshing summary of updates about the activities of one's friends.
2006LaunchNasza Klasa launches, later rebranded NK.pl peaking in popularity by 2009, becoming the biggest social media in Poland and the 4th most-visited website in the country.
2007LaunchTumblr, a microblogging and social networking website, launches.
2007LaunchFriendFeed, a real-time social media feed aggregator, launches.
2007LaunchJustin.tv, a live-streaming that allowed anyone to broadcast video online, launches.
2008AcquisitionAOL buys Bebo for $850 million.
2009AcquisitionFriendFeed is acquired by Facebook for $15 million in cash, and $32.5 million in stock.
2009LaunchWeibo, a Chinese microblogging website, launches.
2010LaunchPinterest, a photo-sharing website, launches.
2010AcquisitionAOL sells ICQ to Mail.Ru for $185 million.
2010AcquisitionBebo is sold by AOL to Criterion Capital Partners.
2010LaunchInstagram, a photo/video sharing and social media service, launches.
2010LaunchPath, a social networking-enabled photo sharing and messaging service for mobile devices, launches.
2010LaunchQuora, a question-and-answer platform, launches.
2011LaunchSnapchat, a photo/video sharing and social media service, launches.
2011AcquisitionMicrosoft acquires Skype Technologies for $8.5 billion.
2011LaunchGoogle+, a social networking service, launches.
2011LaunchKeek, a video-sharing and social media service, launches.
2011AcquisitionMyspace is sold to Specific Media by News Corp. for $35 million.
2011LaunchLinkedIn files for an IPO and trades its first shares under the NYSE symbol "LNKD", at $45 per share.
2011LaunchTwitch, a live-streaming service, launches. This service is a spin-off from Justin.tv, as it is more focused on broadcasting users playing video games.
2011LaunchTwitter overhauls its website to feature the "Fly" design, which the service says is easier for new users to follow and promotes advertising. In addition to the Home tab, the Connect and Discover tabs are introduced along with a redesigned profile and timeline of Tweets.
2012Launch, MilestoneFacebook goes public, negotiating a share price of $38 apiece, valuing the company at $104 billion, the largest valuation to date for a newly listed public company.
2012LaunchSnapchat launches video sharing, allowing users to share 10-second videos.
2012LaunchTinder, a dating-oriented social networking service, launches.
2012AcquisitionFacebook acquires Instagram for $1 billion in cash and stock.
2013Launch, AcquisitionVine, a video-sharing and social media service, launches shortly after being acquired by Twitter for $30 million.
2013LaunchTwitter files for its IPO, and begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The share closed at $44.90, giving the company a valuation of around $31 billion.
2013LaunchInstagram launches video sharing.
2013AcquisitionTumblr is purchased by Yahoo! Inc. for $1.1 billion.
2013LaunchSlack, an instant messaging service designed for internal use by organizations and professionals, launches.
2013LaunchYik Yak, a social media app for local discussion, is launched.
2013Launch8chan, a decentralized English-language imageboard, is launched by Fredrick Brennan.
2013LaunchPatreon, a crowdfunding site that would later become a subscription service for content creators on social media sites, is launched.
2013AcquisitionBebo is purchased from Criterion Capitol Partners for $1 million by Bebo's founders.
2013LaunchInstant messaging and video/voice calling service Google Hangouts launches.
2013LaunchTelegram, launches service for exchange messages, share media, files, live location, hold private and group voice or video calls, as well public livestreams.
2013Launch *Myspace re-launches, coming out with a re-designed website, and a mobile app.
2014DefunctionJustin.tv shuts downs to focus work on Twitch.
2014LaunchMusical.ly, a lip-syncing app, launches.
2014LaunchSnapchat launches collaborative timelines based on events.
2014AcquisitionAmazon acquires Twitch for $970 million.
2014DefunctionOrkut is shut down by Google.
2015Defunction, MilestoneFriendster shuts down due to "the evolving landscape in our challenging industry" and lack of engagement by the online community.
2015Launch, AcquisitionPeriscope, a live video sharing app, launches shortly after being acquired by Twitter.
2015Launch *Bebo re-launches as a messaging app for iOS and Android.
2015LaunchBeme, a short video-sharing app, launches. The creators are Casey Neistat and Matt Hackett.
2015LaunchDiscord, a free instant messaging and video/voice calling service designed for the gaming community, launches.
2015LaunchMeerkat, an application similar to Periscope, launches.
2016LaunchTriller, a video editing app, is converted into a social networking service by allowing users to follow each other and share their videos publicly.
2016AcquisitionMicrosoft acquires LinkedIn for $26.2 billion on 8 December 2016.
2016AcquisitionTime Inc. buys Myspace and its parent company.
2016Defunction, MilestoneYahoo! discontinues its services for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Solaris clients in early August 2016. It will now only support Yahoo! Messenger on Android, iOS, and web clients.
2016DefunctionVine announced that Twitter would be discontinuing the Vine mobile app, later renamed to "Vine Camera".
2016AcquisitionCNN acquires Beme, with the terms of acquisition remaining undisclosed.
2016LaunchMastodon, a free and open-source software for self-hosting interlinking social networking services, is launched.
2017LaunchGab, an alt-tech microblogging site, is launched publicly on May 8, 2017.
2017AcquisitionByteDance acquires Musical.ly for $1 billion.
2017LaunchPillowfort, a microblogging and social networking service, is launched, and is billed as an alternative to Tumblr.
2017DefunctionYik Yak is shut down following a rapid decline in users, accusations of rampant bullying, and the app's banning from some schools.
2017MilestoneSnapchat files for its IPO, and begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The share closed at $24.48, giving the company a valuation of around $33 billion.
2017LaunchTikTok, a short video-sharing and social media service, launches.
2017LaunchCo–Star, an astrological social networking service, launches.
2017MilestoneTumblr announces a complete ban on adult content after Apple Inc. removes Tumblr from its App Store. The move triggers a massive drop in online traffic for Tumblr.
2017DefunctionAIM is discontinued as a service.
2017DefunctionBeme shuts down on January 31, following its acquisition by CNN in 2016.
2018DefunctionYahoo! Messenger shuts down on July 17, 2018.
2018DefunctionMusical.ly shuts down and migrates its users to TikTok.
2018DefunctionPath announces the termination of its service on September 17, 2018. Its closure takes place nearly a month later, on October 18, 2018.
2018LaunchParler launches, an alt-tech social media billing itself as an unbiased and free speech alternative to larger social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook.
2019DefunctionGoogle+ shuts down in April 2019 due to low user engagement and an API flaw.
2019AcquisitionVerizon Media announces it will sell Tumblr to Automattic, owner of WordPress.com and backer of WordPress for less than $3 million.
2020LaunchClubhouse, an audio-chat social networking app, launches.
2020LaunchBeReal, a messaging application that encourages users to share a photo or video of their lives once a day during a two-minute window, launches.
2021LaunchGettr, an alt-tech social media platform aimed at conservatives, is launched by Jason Miller, a former aide to U.S. President Donald Trump.
2021DefunctionNK.pl was shut down on 27 July ending a near-15 year history of once the most popular social media in Poland. Arrival of Facebook to the Polish market being cited as one of the reasons for the departure of users and eventual closure.
2021Launch *Yik Yak relaunches on the App Store.
2022LaunchTruth Social, an alt-tech social media platform, is launched by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
2022AcquisitionTwitter is acquired and taken private by businessman Elon Musk in a $44 billion deal.
2023LaunchNostr, decentralized network protocol for a distributed social networking system, launches.
2023LaunchBluesky, a decentralized microblogging platform, launches in closed beta.
2023Milestone2023 Reddit API controversy, in which Reddit announced they would begin charging for use of its API
2023LaunchThreads, a platform that uses a user's Instagram account to create an account in a format similar to Twitter, is launched by Meta. More than 30 million accounts were made in the first 24 hours of the platform's existence.
2024AcquisitionItalian technology conglomerate Bending Spoons acquires Meetup.
2024MilestoneBluesky opens its platform to public registration.
2024AcquisitionDigital World Acquisition Corp. acquires Truth Social.
2024MilestoneUS president Joe Biden joins the fediverse as @potus@threads.net.
2024MilestoneFirst post on Twitter through the Neuralink brain-computer interface.
2024MilestoneThe Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act was signed into law.
2024MilestoneAustralia becomes the first country to have an age ban for under 16 on social media.
2024MilestoneApp Store Accountability Act is introduced to the United States Congress for consideration.
2025Milestone[Restrictions on Restrictions on TikTok in the United States|TikTok in the United States|TikTok] voluntarily suspends its services in the United States only for 12 hours, leaving a large number of users migrating to RedNote. This was due to uncertainty over whether the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which took effect on January 19, 2025, would be enforced by President Joe Biden. Biden did not enforce the ban and neither did his successor Donald Trump, who took office the day after the ban legally went into effect. TikTok was the first social media app to suspend its services in the United States and the first to be legally banned in the United States.
2025AcquisitionxAI X.AI Corp acquired X, X Corp for $33 billion.
2025MilestoneTelegram and xAI partnership is announced, with plans to integrate Grok into Telegram.
2025MilestoneFlorida bans kids under 16 from signing up social media.
2025DefunctionSkype shuts down, following its decline in favor of Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Discord.
2025MilestoneUS orders mandatory social media screening of Harvard's student visa applicants.
2025MilestoneReddit sues AI company Anthropic, alleging inappropriate use of user-generated content without consent for model training.
2025LaunchSnap launches Lens Studio.
2025MilestoneX bans AI companies use of Twitter posts for training or fine-tuning.
2025MilestoneIndia orders X accounts belonging to Chinese state media blocked.
2025MilestoneYandex, Meta Facebook and Instagram found spying on Android Chrome users since 2017.
2025LaunchBitchat launches, enabling users to chat over local Bluetooth mesh networks.
2025LaunchSora 2 app launches, allowing users to create, share, and view entirely AI-generated short videos, similar to TikTok. Critics of OpenAI characterized this as the company leaning into AI slop.
2025Milestone2025 Nepalese Gen Z protests
2025AcquisitionBending Spoons acquires AOL from Yahoo for approximately $1.4 billion.
2025LaunchGroup chats in ChatGPT launch.