We’re more connected than ever, thanks to social media. Despite thousands of miles of distance, we can still stay in touch with friends and family. We can even make new friends and start social movements at the drop of a #hashtag. But the websites that helped make this all possible had to start somewhere. And despite their strong starts, some sites didn’t last to see the interconnected world we live in today.
Charts: Alison Mackey/Discover; Design elements: Envato
SOURCES:
The Climb to Success:
Facebook:
2004-2008: http://d1lge852tjjqow.cloudfront.net/CIK-0001326801/f3fcb2a3-f76a-4aaa-9c7c-9fa100fdc962.pdf
2009-2017: https://www.statista.com/statistics/264810/number-of-monthly-active-facebook-users-worldwide/
Latest 2018 figure: https://newsroom.fb.com/company-info/p
Twitter:
2010-2014: https://www.statista.com/statistics/282087/number-of-monthly-active-twitter-users/
2015: https://investor.twitterinc.com/static-files/efd72267-6f92-49ee-891f-188e1a43d993
2016: https://investor.twitterinc.com/static-files/7af2715c-27e5-45ba-a690-84620179a1e2
2017: https://investor.twitterinc.com/static-files/c48a4ad8-6c1d-4dfc-b263-898e0bfde2c8
2018: https://investor.twitterinc.com/static-files/5ce969d2-a97f-49ef-ae10-577b81f6efee
Instagram:
2013-2017: https://www.statista.com/statistics/253577/number-of-monthly-active-instagram-users/
2018: https://instagram-press.com/blog/2018/06/20/welcome-to-igtv/
WhatsApp:
2013-2017: https://www.statista.com/statistics/260819/number-of-monthly-active-whatsapp-users/
Pinterest:
2015-2017: https://www.statista.com/statistics/463353/pinterest-global-mau/
Ghosts of Social Sites Past:
Xanga:
https://mashable.com/2006/08/13/xanga-profile/#W_h13K_ENmqY
Friendster:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/31/AR2008123101894.html
http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/webhead/2009/03/ye_olde_social_network.html
Eons:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/crewmedia/acquireseons/prweb5279824.htm
https://progresspartners.com/news-1/2015/10/22/progress-partners-completes-sale-of-eonscom-and-eons-boom-media
Who’s Using What?
http://www.pewinternet.org/2018/03/01/social-media-use-in-2018/
Back From the Dead:
2010: http://techland.time.com/2011/12/20/myspace-returns-with-facebook-integrated-music-player/
2011: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/who-uses-facebook-twitter-linkedin-myspace-social-media-update-4th-q-2010-and-1st-q-2011
2012-2015: https://www.statista.com/statistics/265099/unique-visitors-to-myspacecom/
