How the 80’s Shaped Social Media and Our Digital Lives

The 1980s were a transformative decade in many ways, but one of the most significant impacts of the era was its effect on technology and social media. Indeed, the birth of the World Wide Web and the advent of personal computers led to a change in the way we communicate with each other and consume media. In this article, we’ll explore how the 80s shaped social media and our digital lives.

The Rise of the Personal Computer

In 1981, IBM released its first personal computer, the IBM PC. This was a major turning point in the history of computing, as it made computing accessible to the masses. As a result, personal computers quickly became commonplace, allowing individuals to communicate with each other easily and inexpensively through the internet.

The Birth of the World Wide Web

Another major development that emerged in the 80s was the World Wide Web. Created by British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee in 1989, the Web was originally conceived as a way for researchers to share information across different computer systems. However, it quickly became clear that the Web had broader potential, with its ability to allow for the publication and consumption of information on a global scale.

Social Media as We Know It Today

In the early 90s, the internet emerged as a platform for communication, discussion and information sharing, and provided the perfect breeding ground for the social media revolution that was to come. In 1997, Six Degrees became the first social networking site available to the general public, and it offered features such as member profiles and friends lists.

However, it was the emergence of platforms such as MySpace and Facebook in the mid-2000s that truly changed the game. These platforms allowed users to curate their online personas and interact with others in a variety of ways. The rise of social media was further fueled by the increasing availability of smartphones, which made it even easier for users to stay connected and share information on the go.

Key Takeaways

The 80s were a transformative decade in many ways, but no aspect of life was as fundamentally changed as technology and social media. From the rise of personal computers and the birth of the World Wide Web, to the emergence of social media as a cornerstone of modern communication, the 80s paved the way for our current digital landscape.

As we continue to move forward, it’s important to remember these transformative years and the ways they shaped the technologies that we use every day. Thanks to the 80s, we are now more connected than ever, with an entire world of information at our fingertips. But we must also remember to use these tools responsibly, as the power of social media cannot be underestimated.