Six Degrees is generally considered the first social media platform, launching in 1997 and letting users create profiles, connect with friends, and browse friend networks. It’s often treated as the template for modern social networking.

Why it matters

  • Six Degrees was one of the first services to combine profiles, friend lists, and networking in one place.
  • It was named after the “six degrees of separation” idea.
  • It shut down in 2001, but its basic model influenced later platforms like Friendster and MySpace.

One nuance

Some historians point to earlier online communities and systems, like Usenet or PLATO, as early forms of social media because they supported messaging and sharing. But if you mean the first modern social networking site , Six Degrees is the usual answer.

Quick recap

  • First modern social media platform: Six Degrees.
  • Launch year: 1997.
  • Main innovation: profiles plus connections between users.

Would you like a tiny timeline of the first major social networks?