It happened so fast. Social media has crept into the mainstream over the last twelve years. Crept? OK, that’s not a good word. Let’s call it launch bombed. Like 007 landing at the party in a big parachute. While arguably social media in the form of two-way communication online was developed as early as the 70’s, it did not proliferate our daily lives until YouTube hit the scene in 2005 followed by the popularity of Facebook and Twitter in everyday use by 2008. Between 2005-2010 it spread like lightning and we knew it because it became the topic at the dinner table with mom, dad and grandma over Thanksgiving. It was all marketers could talk about in 2008-2011 as many did what they could to resist the wave of change. Today, it has become a standard communication channel and matured into one of many tactics in every marketer’s playbook. Here’s a timeline Ginger created for one of my Fandom Marketing presentations that I wanted to share with you showing the rise of social media. It specifically showcases the years in which major social networks hit their stride.
Do you agree with our timeline? Let us know what you think in a comment.
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10 Comments
We should expand on this infographic, and track when the network was formed, how long it took to reach the tipping point/go mainstream, and then when it “jumped the shark” and died (Friendster, MySpace, Ping).
Jumped the shark? LOL That would be a fun graphic. ^m
LinkedIn in 2011?? I thought it was earlier…
Steph – this shows mainly when things hit their stride, not when they were launched.
^(that was Ginger, sorry)
I still thought it was earlier than 2011 because I used them actively before I went indie in 2010. Maybe got better after then…
I think 2011 was the year that organizations also realized the power of it… To not only find people, but target through ads and groups and such.
Makes sense. I’m not one to really make an argument. I’m slow to adapt to everything. 😉
Ginger Warnecke Anderson Just sign them ^Ginger or ^Gingie 🙂 ^m
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