Project+1+-+The+Evolution+of+Social+Networking

= __ The Evolution of Social Networking Sites __ =



Every now and then, we hear people talking about Facebook. We do almost everything on Facebook. We update our status on Facebook, upload our photos to Facebook, chat on Facebook, comment on our friends' statuses and photos on Facebook. Everything is on Facebook. Facebook proves to us the power of social networking. In short, social networking sites have gained their popularity and almost everyone connects with one another using these sites.

__**1970s - 1980s**__ Social networking sites become popular since **early 2000s**. Before the advancement of social networks, there are precursors to social medias such as Usernets, Buletin Board Systems (BBSs) , Online Services , Internet Relay Chat (IRC) and Instant Messaging. Usernet systems were first conceived in **1979** and they let users post articles and news to newsgroup, Then came the BBSs in the **late 70s**. BBSs were the first type of sites that allow users to log on and interact with one another. Later in **1985**, one of the Online Services, Genie offered games, shopping, mails and forums. In **1988**, IRC was developed and used for file sharing, link sharing and otherwise keeping in touch. At the same time, the first Instant Messaging programme for computers, the ICQ was developed.







__**1990s**__ In the **1990s**, the early social networks like dating sites, Six Degrees and LiveJournal were introduced. Dating sites allowed users to create profiles and to contact other users. Six Degrees which was the first modern social network, was launched in **1997**. It allowed users to create a profile and to become friends with other users. In **1999**, LiveJournal took a different approach to social networking. It was a social network built around constantly-updated blogs and it encouraged users to follow one another and to create groups. LiveJournal paved the way to the more common blogs of today like Blogger and Wordpress.

__**2000s**__ There are major advances in social networks in the **early 2000s**. More social networking sites like Friendster, Netlog , Hi5 , LinkedIn , MySpace , Bebo , Facebook and Twitter existed. Friendster which was founded in **2002** was really the first modern, general social networking site. Up to today, Friendster has over 90 million registered users and around 60 million unique visitors each month. Friendster let people to discover their friends and friends-of-friends to expand their networks.



Started in **2003**, Netlog is a youth community where users can keep in touch with and extend their social networks. It is specifically targeted at the European youth. On Netlog, we can create our own web page with a blog, pictures, videos, events and much more to share with our friends.



Also in **2003**, Hi5 is established and currently boasting more than 60 million active members according to their own claims. Hi5 is widely used in Asia, Latin America and Central Africa.



LinkedIn which was founded in **2003** was one of the first mainstream social networks devoted to business. Originally, LinkedIn allowed users to post a profile which is like a resume and to interact through private messaging. Eventually, other features of social networking are added to LinkedIn.



Another social networking site that was also founded in **2003** was MySpace. By **2006**, it had grown into the most popular social networking site. MySpace differentiated itself from competitors by allowing users to completely customize the look of their profiles. In addition, users can post music and videos on their profiles.



Launched in **July 2005**, Bebo allowed users to receive a personal profile page where they can post blogs, photographs, musics, videos and questionnaires to which other users may answer. Users may also add others as friends, send them messages and update their personal profiles to notify friends about themselves.

Among all the modern social networking sites, Facebook and Twitter are the most popular ones now. Facebook started out as a Harvard-only social network in **2004** and became the most popular social networking site in **2008**, surpassing MySpace and continues to grow. Different from MySpace, Facebook does not allow users to customize their profile but it allows users to post photos, videos and likewise to their profiles. Besides, Facebook has added the chat function and a number of applications. On the other hand, Twitter which was created and launched in **2006**, offers a social networking and microblogging service where users can post tweets up to 140 characters.



In conclusion, social networking sites have evolved over the years. Starting from Usernets to Facebook and Twitter, social networking sites have connected people from all over the world. The influence of social networks is undeniable. We can foresee that social networking sites will continue to develop and advance.

By Group 4 (Annie Chin Pei Lee & Yeoh Hui Lin)