History of Social Media Timeline

In the early 2000s, social media platforms gained widespread popularity with BlackPlanet (1999) preceding Friendster and Myspace, followed by Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

The social hub site Facebook launched an integrated video platform in May 2007, expanding text-based social media into multimedia sharing.

Image source: Facebook

In December 2019, X CEO Jack Dorsey advocated an 'open and decentralized standard for social media', signaling interest in moving beyond centralized platforms.

Image source: Jack Dorsey

As of 2020, over 5000 social media patent applications had been published in the United States, reflecting intense innovation and competition among platforms.

Image source: Patent

According to Statista, it is estimated that in 2022 around 3.96 billion people were using social media globally, up from 3.6 billion in 2020.

As of 2023, as many as 4.76 billion people used social media, some 59% of the global population, underscoring the medium's near-universal reach.

A 2003 article reported that lonely individuals are more likely to use the Internet for emotional support than others, an early signal of the complex relationship between online platforms and wellbeing.

Image source: Digital media use and mental health

In 2007 Andrew Keen wrote, 'Out of this anarchy, it suddenly became clear that what was governing the infinite monkeys now inputting away on the Internet was the law of digital Darwinism, the survival of the loudest and most opinionated.'

Image source: Andrew Keen

A 2009 study suggested that individual differences may help explain who uses social media: extraversion and openness have a positive relationship with social media, while emotional stability has a negative sloping relationship with it.

Social media was influential in the Arab Spring in 2011, helping activists organize protests and share information across the Middle East and North Africa.

Image source: Arab Spring

A 2012 study focused on peer communication reported that communication among peers can affect purchase intentions: direct impact through encouraging conformity, and an indirect impact by increasing product engagement.

According to Kaplan, Inc., in 2012 27% of admissions officers used Google to learn more about an applicant, with 26% checking Facebook; students whose pages include questionable material may be disqualified from admission.

Image source: Social media in education

In 2014, #AllEyesonISIS went viral on Arabic X (formerly Twitter), demonstrating how hashtags could mobilize attention around global security issues.

Image source: Twitter

In 2017, Facebook gave its new emoji reactions five times the weight in its algorithms as its like button, which data scientists at the company in 2019 confirmed had disproportionately boosted toxicity, misinformation and low-quality news.

Image source: Like button

In 2018, researchers reported that fake news spread almost 70% faster than truthful news on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the challenge of misinformation on social platforms.

Image source: Fake news

A 2020 Gallup poll reported that 53% of adult social media users in the United States thought that social media was a very or moderately important way to keep in touch with people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In June 2020, a survey by Cartoon Network and the Cyberbullying Research Center of American tweens ages 9–12 found YouTube was the most popular application at 67%, with older tweens more likely to use social apps and games.

Image source: YouTube

On December 11, 2020, the CDC put out a 'Call to Action: Managing the Infodemic', addressing the flood of misinformation accompanying the COVID-19 pandemic on social media.

In January 2021, Egyptian authorities were reported to be using Instagram influencers as part of its media ambassadors program, showing governments adopting influencer strategies.

Image source: Influencer marketing

A 2023 study of Australian youth reported that 57% had seen disturbingly violent content, while nearly half had regular exposure to sexual images on social media.

Image source: Means of communication