How It’s Changed: On The History of Social Media
“Social media has come a long way from its humble beginnings in chat rooms and early networking sites to becoming an essential part of daily life worldwide.”
Social media has evolved from a network of early online communities into a powerful global phenomenon that shapes how we communicate, consume information, and connect. Starting with platforms like AOL in the late 1990s and the rise of MySpace and Facebook in the early 2000s, social media began as a way for people to share their lives and stay in touch. Over time, it has transformed into a system that drives news, culture, politics, and even social movements. From 140-character tweets to viral TikTok videos, the shift has been fast! This piece will explore the roots, growth, and current state of social media. How has it become what it is today?
The Origins
Social Media didn’t necessarily start the way it did. Back in the 1970s it was originally created as a way for people to discuss and connect better easily and efficiently.
This came in the form of blogs, chatrooms, forums, and websites. Websites such as Bulletin Board Systems or IRCs (Internet Relay Chat) allowed for quick communication and allowed people around the country to connect and ultimately have a space to share interests and have a place to anonymously chat.
The Emergence of Social Media
In 1997, a platform known as “Six Degrees” was established. Launched in 1997, this platform played a huge factor in social networking, allowing users to create profiles and connect with friends, though it was ahead of its time and didn't achieve widespread popularity. It was mostly common in Asia. It unfortunately shut down in 2001.
The Website That Started It All
In 2003, MySpace was introduced to the online scene. MySpace was a very influential website in which you were able to customize your page to your heart's desire. This also helped teens around the nation with HTML coding and other sorts of website development in a way. MySpace also introduced alot of different subcultures and ultimately brought people together. When we asked a few teachers about their experience, Ms. Medina responded, “When using and personalizing my page it felt holistic, like it represented me.”
Being able to implement music to your account was a major factor to your profile. It let you connect and also share and see who had the same music taste as one another. After asking TK, he stated: “I also learned how to code on MySpace to create my profile. I had a Daddy Yankee song ready to play as soon as you went to my profile.”
MySpace had a top friends list which consisted of around 8 people. This was a key factor to a lot of drama on the site and within friend groups. Having to check and ensure you didn't kick out your online boyfriend or girlfriend’s account was probably one of the biggest worries teens had to face at the time (not to mention the crazy amount of catfishing). Lastly, Coach Ayala said, “It also had a top friend's feature…to have those friends posted on your page was a sign of friendship. The craziest thing about MySpace was competing to be on everyone’s top friends list”
Another significant development that occurred was the development of Facebook which started in the year 2003 in a Harvard dorm. A Harvard sophomore student, Mark Zuckerburg, created a platform called Facemash which was innovated as a way for Harvard students to rate each other's attractiveness, which obviously was taken down.
After this occurrence in 2004, young Mark Zuckerburg developed the well-known platform we all know as Facebook. At first this website was used by students across Harvard, Brown, and Columbia as a way of communication. That year it gained a significant amount of popularity and usage, which led to it being an official platform in 2006.
Future Impact
After you’ve seen where it all began, we can talk about how all of these innovations have affected our current usage on social media. As we all know, social media has grown rapidly, and still is! From the creation of profiles to posting on your page, it all has been with us from the start, but what has changed?
In platforms such as MySpace, there was limitless creativity and an astonishing amount of active users in its peak. And even though it's sad to see its downfall after 2011, it helped create a pathway for social media today.. Facebook made it easier to connect with friends and keep things more organized. They really set the stage for what social media looks like today—getting people used to sharing their lives online, following trends, and staying in touch in new ways. Without them, we probably wouldn’t have the social apps we use every day, like Instagram, Tik Tok, or Snapchat.
Social media has come a long way from its humble beginnings in chat rooms and early networking sites to becoming an essential part of daily life worldwide. Platforms like MySpace and Facebook set the stage for how we connect, express ourselves, and share our lives online. As we continue to evolve with newer apps and technologies, the legacy of early social media reminds us just how powerful and influential digital connection has become. It will definitely keep shaping our future.