From the Tech & Trends Desk at Readnews.in
The internet today powers everything—from streaming shows to ordering food and making viral TikToks. But how did it all begin? Let’s take a quick journey through the fascinating evolution of the internet.
1969: The Birth of ARPANET
It all started with ARPANET, a U.S. government project that connected four universities to share data. On October 29, 1969, the first message was sent between UCLA and Stanford—a simple “LOGIN” that crashed the system after two letters.
1980s: The Foundation Years
Email became the primary tool on ARPANET, and the Domain Name System (DNS) was introduced. This gave birth to .com, .org, and .edu websites.
1991: The World Wide Web Goes Public
Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, allowing documents to be accessed via hyperlinks. Websites became accessible to anyone with a modem and curiosity.
1990s: The Dot-Com Boom
With companies like Yahoo, Amazon, and Google rising, the internet became a marketplace, a library, and a social gathering space. By the late ’90s, homes started getting dial-up internet.
2000s: The Rise of Social Media
Platforms like MySpace, Orkut, and later Facebook turned the web into a social experience. YouTube (2005) revolutionized video, and smartphones brought the internet to every pocket.
2010s: Mobile & Meme Culture
Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter took center stage. Memes, viral trends, and hashtags became a global language. Meanwhile, e-commerce and digital payments flourished.
2020s: The TikTok Era & Beyond
TikTok changed the way we consume and create content—short, fast, and addictive. The internet is now driven by AI, personalization, and creator-led economies.
Final Thought from Readnews.in
From military tech to dance challenges, the internet has transformed in just a few decades. It’s no longer just a tool — it’s a lifestyle. And with AI and Web3 on the rise, the next chapter is just beginning.
