Social Media - Past, Present & Future

The History of Social Networking - You mean it didn't start with Facebook?!?
This is a great article and although it was written a year ago, it gives great insight to the history of Social Networking and even a realistic look into the future.

A Timeline of Social Networking:

Computer-Mediated Communication

Usenet
ARPANET
LISTSERV
BBS
EIES

Generalized Online Communities

Also known as "the blogging phenomenon"...
The WELL (1985)
Theglobe.com (1995)
Geocities (1994)
Tripod.com (1995)

...Introducing user profiles and the "Friends List"
Classmates.com (1995)
Sixdegrees.com (1997)

Now for the social networks you know well:
Friendster (2002)
MySpace (2003)
LinkedIn (2003)
Bebo (2004)
Facebook (2004)
YouTube (2005)
Twitter (2006)