The History of Social network in India

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History of social media

When Did Social Media Come to India?

Social media is not just a way to connect anymore – it has become a lifestyle, a business tool, and even a career option. India’s journey with social media has been fascinating, starting from Orkut in 2004 to today’s Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and even AI-powered tools like ChatGPT. Let’s walk step by step through this timeline.

The Beginning (2004): Orkut and the First Craze
Screenshot of Orkut social media platform showing user profile and scraps.
https://www.orkut.com/

In 2004, India saw the arrival of Orkut, a platform created by Google. It became the first major social networking site for Indian youth.

For the very first time, people started:

  • Creating personal profiles,

  • Writing and sharing scraps,

  • Uploading photos and testimonials,

  • Making new digital friendships online.

👉 Orkut marked the beginning of India’s digital social era. It wasn’t just a website; it was the start of a culture where people began exploring friendships and connections beyond physical boundaries.

Facebook’s Entry in India (2006, boom after 2010)

Facebook homepage and mobile app interface displaying news feed and profile section.
https://www.facebook.com/

Facebook was launched globally in 2004, but in India, it entered around 2006–07. Initially, only college students and tech-savvy users were active there.

The real boom came after 2010, when smartphones and cheaper internet connections became accessible. Facebook quickly overtook Orkut and became the biggest social network.

By this time, people were:

  • Sharing photos, statuses, and videos,

  • Staying connected with family and friends,

  • Using Facebook Pages and Groups for communities,

  • And later, even earning through pages and advertisements.

Today, Facebook remains a widely used platform in India, though youth engagement has shifted more towards Instagram and YouTube.

WhatsApp’s Entry in India (2009 launch, boom after 2012)

WhatsApp chat screen showing messages, emojis, and group conversation.
https://web.whatsapp.com/

WhatsApp was launched in 2009 by Brian Acton and Jan Koum, two former Yahoo employees.

In India, it gained popularity around 2012–13, replacing SMS and expensive balance-based communication.

WhatsApp brought revolutionary features like:

  • Free instant messaging,

  • Group chats,

  • Sharing photos and videos,

  • Voice and video calls.

👉 It completely changed communication habits. By 2015, almost every smartphone user in India was active on WhatsApp.

Instagram’s Rise (2012, boom after 2016)

Instagram profile page and feed showing photos, stories, and reels.
https://www.instagram.com/

Instagram was launched in October 2010, and India started seeing it around 2012.

At first, it was mainly used by people to share aesthetic photos with filters. But things changed after 2016:

  • Youth started sharing lifestyle content,

  • Influencers and celebrities built careers,

  • Stories and Reels increased engagement,

  • Brands used it for promotions and advertising.

👉 Today, Instagram is both an entertainment hub and a career platform, with thousands of influencers earning a living through it.

YouTube in India (2005 launch, boom after 2014)

YouTube interface with trending videos and video player screen.
https://www.youtube.com/

YouTube launched globally in 2005 and was bought by Google in 2006.

In India, the platform became a real success after 2014, when Jio’s cheap internet plans made video streaming affordable for everyone.

YouTube opened a new digital world where:

  • Students used it for learning,

  • Youth enjoyed entertainment and music,

  • Creators started earning from ads and brand collaborations.

Today, YouTube is the largest video-sharing platform in India, where education, entertainment, and business all come together.

Twitter in India (2006 launch, boom after 2010)

Twitter (now X) feed showing trending hashtags and tweets.
https://x.com/X.


Twitter was launched in 2006. In India, it started gaining momentum around 2009–10.

Early adopters included politicians, celebrities, and media houses. It became a place for:

  • Expressing thoughts in short tweets,

  • Following trending hashtags,

  • Getting real-time news updates.

👉 Even today, Twitter (now X) plays an important role in political conversations, breaking news, and public debates.

Snapchat’s Trend (2012, boom after 2016)

Snapchat camera screen with filters and disappearing photo messages.
https://www.snapchat.com/


Snapchat was launched in 2011 globally and entered India in 2012–13.

Its unique concept of disappearing photos and videos along with fun filters made it popular among teenagers.

By 2016, when selfie culture was booming, Snapchat became a key player. Even today, it remains a favorite app for fun, casual sharing among the youth.

LinkedIn in India (2009, boom after 2015)

LinkedIn homepage displaying professional profiles and job listings.
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/


LinkedIn launched in 2003, but in India it gained attention after 2009–10.

Initially, only professionals used it to showcase resumes. But after 2015, the platform exploded in popularity as:

  • Students began using it for job hunting,

  • Professionals built networks,

  • Businesses used it for B2B marketing.

👉 Today, LinkedIn is one of the most trusted professional platforms in India, with millions of users finding jobs and clients daily.

TikTok Craze in India (2018–2020)
TikTok short video feed with creators performing dance and lip-sync videos.

TikTok entered India around 2017, but its real boom came in 2018–2020. It quickly became the most downloaded app in India.

It introduced the short video culture, where millions of Indians started showcasing their talent. From comedy skits to dance videos, TikTok created a wave of new digital stars.

But in June 2020, the Indian Government banned TikTok due to security reasons.

After the ban, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts filled the gap and continued the short video revolution.

Reels and Short Video Revolution (After 2020)

Post TikTok ban, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts became the backbone of India’s short-form video trend

Today, short videos are not just for entertainment – they are a major tool for:

  • Personal branding,

  • Business marketing,

  • Earning opportunities.

    • India’s Ongoing Short Video Craze.
    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YQEZyhIglw8

The Rise of ChatGPT and AI in India

Best AI Tools
https://chatgpt.com/


Now let’s talk about something beyond traditional social media – AI platforms like ChatGPT.

History of ChatGPT:

  • Developed by OpenAI, ChatGPT is an AI chatbot based on advanced language models.

  • The first version launched in November 2022 and quickly went viral across the world.

ChatGPT in India:

  • By early 2023, Indian students, professionals, teachers, and businesses started using ChatGPT.

  • It became popular for:

    • Writing help,

    • Coding assistance,

    • Customer support,

    • Marketing content,

    • Learning new skills.

👉 Just like Orkut started the social media era, ChatGPT is starting the AI era in India.

Today, millions of Indians are using ChatGPT for study, career, and business growth. It shows how technology is moving beyond social media into intelligent digital assistance.

Conclusion

The journey of social media in India has been dynamic and transformative:

  • 2004: Orkut introduced online friendships.

  • 2006–10: Facebook and Twitter connected masses.

  • 2012–16: WhatsApp, Instagram, and Snapchat created new communication trends.

  • 2018–20: TikTok brought short videos, which later continued with Reels and Shorts.

  • 2023 onwards: AI platforms like ChatGPT entered the scene, shaping the future of communication and creativity.

👉 In short, India’s digital journey started with Orkut scraps and has now reached a point where AI like ChatGPT can hold full conversations. The future will only bring more exciting transformations.


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