In the early days of the Internet, it was simply a static network primarily designed to help government researchers share information. Back then, computers were still large and immobile. But as the years went by, notably in 2009, the Internet became a powerful instrument for the entrepreneurs of various online stores to launch their web portals. It’s also the era when online video sharing and social media platforms began to rise. Subsequently, many internet services have grown and significantly impacted every aspect of many people’s lives.
Access to the Internet has become essential for most people. It allows them to do nearly everything, including storing and taking advantage of data, shopping for products online, sharing a moment by posting updates on various social networks, and staying up-to-date on current news and trends.
Accordingly, to dig deeper into how the Internet has changed, you may consider reading further to know its progress over the last decade.
Social Media
Social media entrepreneurs first created social media to help internet users communicate digitally with friends, loved ones, colleagues, and like-minded people anytime and anywhere. But over the past decade, social media has developed from a means to keep in touch with people to a way to gain followers or attention. Mobile and internet users went from draining their data plans and posting pictures online to always being preoccupied with an endless quantity of memes. Notably, research shows that from 21.49 million users in 2017, Canadians who use social media increased to approximately 33.51 million in 2022. Moreover, on the international landscape, Facebook grew from around 1.5% in 2008 to approximately 30% of the world population in 2018.
According to Statista, amidst all the social media platforms like Myspace, Friendster, and Twitter, Facebook remains the giant and most successful platform, with around 2.93 billion monthly active users as of January 2022. Consequently, from being a social networking site created initially for college students and other teenagers, Facebook expanded its demographics and is now popular among different age groups. Furthermore, unlike Myspace and Friendster, the once-dominant social media platforms that fell from grace, Twitter managed to survive over the last decade by changing what they provide to users. In particular, from not allowing users to upload videos and images, 50% of viewed Twitter content today includes pictures and videos.
Moreover, other social media platforms, such as WeChat, Instagram, and YouTube, also follow the social media giant Facebook with more than a billion users. Also, it’s believed that the newly emerged social media app called TikTok, with 2.6 billion global downloads in December 2020, could be the future of social media.
Social media platforms have also made unlimited browsing and streaming possible. You’re in for a great experience with the Internet then if you’re blessed with technological advantages like the fast and cheap internet in Vaughan.
Big Data
Over the last decade, the total amount of data produced, captured, reproduced, and consumed has changed immeasurably. Notably, from 4.4 zettabytes in 2013, the total amount of data is forecasted to rise to 64.2 zettabytes by 2020. In perspective, 64.2 zettabytes are equivalent to 64.2 trillion gigabytes. Due to processing these more extensive data sets, the traditional data analysis changed into Big Data. But with smartphone technological advancements along with the Internet of Things, it’s now possible to track data movement and analyze customer behavior and even health-related data.
While the Internet of Things collects data from physical objects via various sensors, Big Data allows efficient and faster storage processing of this data. These two independent technologies rely on one another to enable technological advances by turning data into actionable insights that provide a new range of opportunities for businesses, transportation, and health care. For instance, with Big Data analytics combined with the Internet of Things insights, businesses can get a bigger picture of their company’s performance. Also, with the Internet of Things insights and improved analytics, businesses today can promote informed decision-making and forecasting, save costs, drive efficiencies in their operations, and improve customer service.
Cloud Computing
Over the last decade, cloud computing can be considered one of the most significant technological transformations adopted by internet users. The use of cloud computing in conjunction with the Internet of Things has become a catalyst of some sort that impacted the way people manage information. As hybrid cloud adoption develops, many industries now realize its benefits. Notably, voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service has become more satisfactory than traditional phones due to cloud computing. Telecom services have grown in mobility, efficiency, and service. Thus, if a business owner has an off-site workforce, team members can make phone calls easily even when they’re away from their desks.
Furthermore, before moving to the cloud, Server Message Block used to mark up prices for one-time transactional costs when purchasing software before moving to the cloud. As a result, customers typically prefer outdated products to save money by not upgrading. But cloud computing, combined with the Internet of Things, has changed how people pay for products and services. Companies today are offering more payment options to customers. Moreover, apart from changing the way people pay for products and services, cloud computing in conjunction with the Internet of Things has also helped minimize burdens for software developers, transformed the cybersecurity sector, and reduced expenses in the healthcare industry.
Conclusion
Ultimately, due to constant technological advances, the Internet has become a basic necessity for many people around the globe over the last decade. Access to the Internet is necessary to share and exchange ideas, information, and news. Hence, it’s crucial for businesses, healthcare, and other sectors of society.
