Rasmus Lerdorf releases the first version of PHP (Personal Home Page Tools). This server-side scripting language becomes the backbone of the dynamic web, eventually powering sites like Wikipedia and Facebook. Part of the 16 Internet Evolution Facts:… Read More »The Birth of PHP
Mark Zuckerberg expands the network beyond the Ivy League, adding high school networks and UK universities, initiating its transition into a mainstream global platform. Part of the 20 Internet Evolution Facts: The 2005 Edition archive.… Read More »Facebook Expands to High Schools and International Universities
A group of filmmakers founds a high-quality video-sharing platform that supports creative artistic content. It introduces clean user interfaces and becomes an early standard for online video distribution. Part of the 18 Internet Evolution Facts:… Read More »The Launch of Vimeo
Joshua Schachter launches a social bookmarking web service. It popularizes the concept of “tagging” and introduces metadata classification to general web browsing. Part of the 16 Internet Evolution Facts: The 2003 Edition archive. HistoricallyVerified
A video of a Canadian teenager playing with a golf ball retriever is uploaded. It becomes one of the very first global viral video sensations. Part of the 16 Internet Evolution Facts: The 2002 Edition… Read More »The Star Wars Kid Video Goes Viral
Microsoft releases a highly stable, redesigned operating system. It unifies consumer and business computing around modern web features. Part of the 16 Internet Evolution Facts: The 2001 Edition archive. HistoricallyVerified
HP releases early “palmtop” PCs with built-in modems. While slow, they allow early adopters to check emails and browse text-heavy sites without a desktop. Part of the 18 Internet Evolution Facts: The 1997 Edition archive.… Read More »Jornada 820 and Mobile Web
Microsoft launches Expedia, the first major online travel agency. It allows users to book flights and hotels directly, beginning the massive disruption of the traditional travel agent industry. Part of the 17 Internet Evolution Facts: The… Read More »The Launch of Expedia
Gary Kremen launches Match.com, the first major online dating site. It uses a proprietary algorithm to pair users, marking the beginning of the “digital matchmaking” era. Part of the 16 Internet Evolution Facts: The 1995 Edition… Read More »The Launch of Match.com
Kim Dotcom founds an online file storage and viewing service. It quickly becomes one of the largest hubs for digital media distribution and file sharing on the web. Part of the 20 Internet Evolution Facts:… Read More »The Launch of Megaupload