Social Media Began in New York City: Here are 10 Social Media Firsts

Social media is now a part of everyday life.

Image via dreamstime.comPhoto bydreamstime.com

And, since its inception 26 years ago, it's become such a global affair, it's hard to believe it started in any one city.

But, the first-ever social media platform, Six Degrees, was created in the big apple itself -- New York City. Lasting only 3 years (from 1997-2000), the Facebook-like platform went on to change the landscape of society, technology, and the internet, forever.

Here are 10 social media firsts that have created our current reality:

#10. In 1997, the first social media platform was invented. Six Degrees was very similar to Facebook, allowing social networking based on common interests.

Six Degrees' landing page (saved as an online artifact, of sorts).Photo byhttp://sixdegrees.com

#9. In 2003, MySpace allowed regular people to become pseudo-celebrities based on their style and music taste -- now called influencers. In the same year, LinkedIn revolutionized professional networking, turning job searching into social networking. Today, 74% of employment is now found through social media.

#8. In 2005, YouTube created a hub for the world to share videos. Its partner program would go on to create the first career influencers.

#7. In 2006, Twitter was born, allowing anyone with a voice to be heard.

#6. In 2007, Facebook Ads gave marketers advanced data into their customers, spawning a new age of surveillance capitalism.

#5. In 2009, the first dating app, Grindr, was created. Making online dating more accessible than ever. It would soon be followed by Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble, solidifying apps as a widespread door to romantic interaction.

#4. In 2014, Facebook was the first social media platform to introduce AI (artificial intelligence) to their systems -- using deep learning algorithms to monitor users' online behaviour. Now, using AI has become common practice amongst almost every major social media platform.

#3. In 2014, GrubHub revolutionized food delivery, allowing you to order food to your door.

#2. In 2016, Instagram introduced stories, making posting more accessible than ever. It’s also, arguably, responsible for the short-form content that dominates the current social media landscape.

#1. In 2018, TikTok was released in North America, effectively changing the way we consume content.

Although social media has undoubtedly moved society forward in many respects, allowing us to share information at lightning speeds, it's come with a litany of mental health hurdles.

A recent study at ORIGIN showed,

“48% of Gen Zers say social media makes them feel anxious, sad, or depressed.”

So, as much as social media has become a part of everyday life, it's important to recognize its implications. And, to be diligent when passing it on to the next generation.

Hey, I'm Hudson! I write about social media, marketing, and modern entrepreneurship. Hit follow for more stories like this one.