They can also categorize content using hashtags and location information. The app is now available on most smart device platforms. In 2012, Facebook acquired Instagram for $1 billion. The app allows users to share photos and videos, but unlike Facebook, it’s completely private.
Six Degrees launched in 1997 and was a social networking site that allowed people to create individual profiles and add their friends. The site was extremely popular with younger users, and allowed users to post music to their profile pages and change backgrounds. The website peaked with over three million users, but was quickly eclipsed by Facebook. It shut down a year later.
Myspace made the idea of social networking a reality. It included features such as “Top Eight Friends” and “Profile Songs.” The concept was so popular that it soon became a major internet phenomenon. It was developed by Andrew Weinreich, and allowed users to create profiles and invite new friends and post stuff to bulletin boards. This was a precursor to Facebook and Twitter, and allowed users to connect with one another.
Google also experimented with a social network. The company released Orkut in 2004, which initially began as an invitation-only service. The service was a social networking website with friends, and started as a Facebook competitor. It later became a social network with millions of users. But unlike Facebook, Google+ had no mobile app.
Snapchat was another early player. Despite being a relative newcomer, it has managed to attract a younger demographic, and is now one of the most popular social media apps. It allows users to send and receive pictures and videos that disappear after a few seconds. The service also has a story-like feature.
MySpace is the most popular social media app today. Its users can create and share their profiles, embed videos, and share music. In addition, MySpace also offers the option to connect with friends through instant messaging (IM). Another important app is YouTube, which launched a website in 2005 and now has over 350 million users. With these advances, businesses and users are starting to take notice of the power of social media for advertising.
Friendster is a social networking app that predates MySpace. Friendster was created by Jonathan Abrams and Peter Chin and reached millions of users within months. It is now one of the most popular social networking sites and is credited with sparking the social media movement. The idea of meeting people you’re unfamiliar with is easy, safe, and addictive.
LinkedIn was the next social networking platform. Launched in December 2002, it was aimed at helping professionals build professional networks. Like other social media sites, LinkedIn has grown rapidly, with its user base doubling in the last decade. Currently, it has more than 575 million users and is ranked 285 on Alexa’s list of most popular sites. The site is also a platform for job and business networking.