Top 7 Oldest Social Media Platforms

Social media has revolutionized the way we communicate and share information. The roots of social media date back to the late 20th century, with the advent of platforms that allowed users to interact and share content over the internet.

One of the earliest social media platforms was SixDegrees.com, launched in 1997, which allowed users to create profiles and list their friends. However, it was the launch of Friendster in 2002, MySpace in 2003, and Facebook in 2004 that truly marked the beginning of the social media era.

ADVERT

These platforms not only allowed users to connect with friends and share content but also provided a space for self-expression and identity creation. Here we would like to share with you the top 7 oldest social media platforms ever created that changed the way of communications.

7. Facebook (2004)

Facebook, one of the oldest and most influential social media platforms, was launched as “TheFacebook” on February 4, 2004. It was founded by Mark Zuckerberg and his Harvard University roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes.

Initially, Facebook was limited to Harvard students, but it gradually expanded to other colleges, universities, corporations, and eventually to anyone with a valid email address and an age requirement of 13 or older.

The idea for Facebook came from the concept of a “facebook,” a student directory featuring photos and basic information. Today, Facebook is part of the company Meta Platforms and has billions of users across the globe.

6. Orkut (2004)

Orkut, named after its creator Orkut Büyükkökten, was one of the earliest social media platforms. It was launched by Google on January 22, 2004. Büyükkökten, a Turkish software engineer, developed Orkut as an independent project while working at Google.

The platform was designed to help users meet new and old friends and maintain existing relationships. It quickly became one of the most visited websites in India and Brazil in 2008. Unlike Facebook, where one can only view the profile details of people in their network, Orkut initially allowed anyone to visit everyone’s profile.

However, on June 30, 2014, Google announced it would be closing Orkut on September 30, 2014. No new accounts could be created starting from July 2014.

5. My Space (2003)

MySpace, one of the earliest social media platforms, was launched on August 1, 2003. It was created by Chris DeWolfe, Tom Anderson, and Jon Hart. Initially, MySpace was a trailblazer in the realm of social media, offering users the ability to create personalized profiles, connect with friends, and share music and videos.

It played a critical role in the early growth of companies like YouTube and launched the successes of Zynga, RockYou, and Photobucket, among others. From 2005 to 2009, MySpace was the largest social networking site in the world.

ADVERT

In July 2005, MySpace was acquired by News Corporation for $580 million. At its peak in April 2008, MySpace reached 115 million monthly visitors. However, it started losing ground to Facebook in terms of global users. By 2019, the site’s monthly visitors had dropped to seven million.

4. LinkedIn (2003)

LinkedIn, a pioneer in professional social networking, was launched on May 5, 2003. It was co-founded by Reid Hoffman, a venture capitalist, and Eric Ly, an engineer. Unlike other social media platforms that focus on personal connections and entertainment, LinkedIn emphasizes professional networking and career development.

LinkedIn allows users to create profiles that resemble a resume, showcasing their skills, employment history, and educational background. It enables users to connect with colleagues, industry professionals, and potential employers.

Over the years, LinkedIn has become a vital tool for job seekers, recruiters, and companies looking to establish a professional online presence. Since December 2016, LinkedIn has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Microsoft.

3. Friendster (2002)

Friendster was founded by Canadian computer programmer Jonathan Abrams in 2002. The site went live in March 2003 and quickly gained popularity, with over 3 million users adopting the platform within the first few months.

Friendster was designed to allow users to connect with friends, share content, and discover new events, bands, and hobbies. Users could share videos, photos, messages, and comments with other members via profiles and networks. It is considered one of the original social networks.

Despite its initial success, Friendster faced challenges in maintaining its user base. The company suspended services in 2015, citing “the evolving landscape in our challenging industry” and lack of engagement by the online community.

2. Ryze (2001)

Ryze is one of the oldest social networking platforms, established in 2001 by Adrian Scott. Unlike many other social media platforms that cater to a broad audience, Ryze specifically targets business professionals.

The platform provides a space for networking and professional connections, allowing users to interact with others in their industry. Ryze played a significant role in the evolution of social networking.

ADVERT

It contributed to the development of subsequent social networking services, including Friendster, which was founded by Jonathan Abrams in 2003. However, over time, Ryze quickly became overshadowed by other social media like Friendster.

1. Six Degrees (1997)

SixDegrees.com, launched in 1997, is often considered the first social media platform. The site was named after the concept of “six degrees of separation,” which posits that any two people on Earth are six or fewer acquaintance links apart.

The platform was created by Andrew Weinreich and was based on the Web of Contacts model of social networking. Users could list friends, family members, and acquaintances, whether they were registered on the site or not.

At its peak, SixDegrees had around 100 employees, and the site had around 3.5 million fully registered members. Despite its initial success, SixDegrees.com was short-lived and shut down in 2000.

Source: