Did You Invest in the Dot-Com Boom?
Every week, there's a new tech trend that emerges. Most are minor, and some catch on, but only a few revolutionize the world and change the way we live. These are the trends that shift paradigms and alter societies. Here are 20 tech trends that took the world by storm.
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1. MP3 Players and Napster
MP3 compression changed the music industry in unprecedented ways. It led to the music sharing phenomenon, aided by Napster, a platform where you could download music for free. The free access to music was game-changing, even if it destroyed our computers with viruses.
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2. The Dot-Com Boom
The rise of internet companies between 1995 and 2000 fueled a massive investment push and even great hype. Companies like Netscape and Google ushered in the promise of big returns, even though very few investors had any idea what they were investing in. Unfortunately, the bubble burst in 2000.
3. The iPod Revolution
Apple launched the iPod in 2001, and people have never listened to music the same way again. The iPod was a tiny handheld device that held thousands of songs and killed the concept of the album.
4. Text Messaging
Text messaging was a bit slower to seep into people's lives, but it eventually exploded in the early 2000s. Teens were the first to adopt this new digital communication technology and style, and now the whole world speaks in text slang. LOL, right?
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5. Social Media Era
MySpace was the first global social media giant, and it took the world by storm. It lets users express their personality by customizing their profiles, sharing music, and making new friends.
6. Facebook Goes Global
MySpace was the first social media platform, but it never came close to Facebook's reach and success. Facebook started at college campuses, and eventually went global to become the default social media network for people of all ages. It has many competitors now, but when it first gained steam, there was nothing like it.
7. YouTube
YouTube launched in 2005 and revolutionized entertainment and the way we watch content. It gave every person the chance to be a television star and is still popular for watching your favorite YouTube personalities, tutorials, and more.
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8. Smartphones
In 2007, the world was introduced to the iPhone, and the mobile phone was redefined. It was no longer simply a phone or a way to read email while walking. The smartphone was your creative hub for music, TV shows, movies, and communication. Whatever you wanted, there was an app for that.
9. Twitter
Twitter was founded in 2006, and who knew that the world wanted to be succinct? It's 140-character limit forced brevity, and it didn't take long for politicians and celebrities to hop on board. Millennials and Gen-Z were quick to adopt this social media network.
10. Cloud Computing
Cloud computing moved storage to on-demand platforms with a lot more space. It gave people the ability to store more and share more, and it scaled instantly.
11. The App Economy
The iOS App Store and Google Play ushered in the age of app marketplaces that proved there was an app for just about anything. Apps could streamline our lives, provide entertainment, and solve problems. It still feels like these marketplaces have a never-ending supply of apps to download.
12. Android's Dominance
Android is a mobile operating system that was a huge success upon launching in 2008. It was value-conscious, and its carrier partnerships made it highly accessible.
13. WhatsApp
WhatsApp replaced SMS with encrypted, free, and multimedia messaging. It's the messaging platform of choice for billions. Today, most find themselves in multiple WhatsApp group chats.
14. Instagram
Instagram was responsible for spearheading the visual culture that is all the rage today. It turned our smartphones into cameras and storytelling devices, and has become home to brands and influencers. It was acquired by Facebook in 2012.
15. Snapchat
Snapchat might be dwindling somewhat in popularity, but users loved it when it was first launched. Snapchat introduced disappearing photos and stories to users, and other social media networks have stolen the idea.
16. TikTok
TikTok ranks alongside Taylor Swift in global popularity. It's that big. TikTok perfected the concept of algorithmic discovery and propelled short videos to the forefront of pop culture, and has redesigned social entertainment.
17. Streaming TV
Netflix's model of streaming content was the catalyst for a mass exodus of cable subscribers to cut the cord. The market has since become saturated with big players like Prime Video, Roku, and Disney+. Billions of subscribers still gravitate toward the convenience of streamers and their library of movies and TV shows.
18. Crowdfunding
Every day, it feels like we're being asked to contribute to some cause, passion project, or to help someone who's fallen on hard times. The crowdfunding model was a tech trend that truly boomed. Art creators have greatly benefited from these platforms, as it allowed them to pre-sell to fans and raise money before putting in the work.
19. Tablets
Tablets, like the Apple iPad, changed casual computing. With touch-first apps and immersive media, tablets were an instant hit. The category has broadened beyond Apple to include Android tablets and other competitors. Furthermore, tablets have become a serious tool for creatives.
20. Selfies
It's tough to pinpoint when it happened, but at some point, everyone was making a duck face and snapping a selfie. Front-facing cameras on smartphones are probably to blame, but selfies have provided an outlet for self-expression and social sharing.
