The internet 10 years ago vs today
While the internet is relatively new and we’re still looking to the future, we sometimes fail to realize how much it has evolved in just a few short years. In fact, the evolution of the internet has happened at such a rapid—even blistering—pace that we tend to forget that this means of communication emerged hardly more than 30 years ago, in 1989, under the name “World Wide Web.” The first website was created in 1991, and the internet became public in 1993. In 1994, the first search engine appeared. Do you know which one it was? Well, it wasn’t Google! It was AltaVista, which Yahoo later purchased. Google came on the scene four years later, in 1998. Highly proficient in the quality of its search results, which were based on a system that considered a webpage’s reputation, as well as the number and quality of the links pointing to it, Google quickly crushed the competition. Since then, it has never ceased to progress, becoming the major player we know today. The first true social network, which only lasted four years, appeared in 1997 under the name “Sixdegrees.com.” LinkedIn launched in 2003, followed by Facebook in 2004. In 2007, the internet evolved further, adapting to mobile devices. The first 10 years witnessed a major step in the development of the internet, which went from Web 3.0 to Web 4.0.
The internet in the decade of 2010
Web 3.0, also known as the “Semantic Web,” focused on organizing the massive quantity of available information in accordance with the context and with the needs of each individual. It considered the internet user’s location, preferences and other criteria.
In 2010, the emergence of HTML5 represented a veritable revolution for the internet, as this new standard would help transform static webpages into bona fide computer programs capable of competing with mobile apps. Thanks to this development, the number of websites exploded within just a few years, exceeding one billion by 2014. Web 3.0 thus became more portable, consolidating the link between the real and virtual worlds, as it responded to the needs of an ever-increasing number of mobile users.
The internet today
According to the website Live Stats, by the end of 2020, more than 4.79 billion people worldwide had internet access. This means that, in only 10 years, the number of internet users across the planet increased by 166 percent.
Web 4.0, also known as the “Intelligent Web,” was the next logical step in the evolution of Web 3.0. Based on wireless communication, it enabled both people and companies to interact in real time, at any moment and anywhere in the physical or virtual world (for example, through online video games). Thus, the intelligent web took full advantage of the customization of the internet that began with the semantic web, confronting the major challenges of protecting people’s privacy. Web 4.0 also heralded an increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in search engines, chatbots, etc. to associate internet users with certain products and services. In fact, AI can understand and tailor advertisements, messages and search results based on an individual user’s specific needs. As a result, the internet has become an integral part of our lives!
Web 4.0 is also marked by the undeniable power of Google, which, in December of 2018, came to dominate the internet world, notably with its Chrome browser. Currently, Google’s search engine, which is the leader, handling more than 90 percent of all search traffic, continuously updates and refines the algorithms it uses to rank its results. In May of 2021, it performed a major update with the implementation of Google Page Experience, which aims to offer a better user experience by considering webpages’ user-friendliness, optimization for mobile devices and secure navigation, among other criteria, in the natural referencing or Search Engine Optimization (SEO) process. To learn more about these updates, see our article on the subject. Google also provides access to local information by means of user geolocation, displaying the ranked search results on a map that corresponds to the companies’ Google My Business (GMB) listings. This allows businesses to display their information locally, while enabling internet users to find reviews of the proposed products or services.
These days, it’s indispensable for companies of all sizes to follow the rules and keep up with the continuous evolution of Web 4.0. This takes the form of websites whose pages automatically adjust the layout to any size, resolution or screen type, including those used by mobile phones, tablets, laptops and TVs. This is the very definition of “responsive design,” also known as “adaptive web design.” It also takes the form of a presence on social media, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or TikTok, where companies can post photos, videos and advertising messages.
As you’ve no doubt realized after reading this article, keeping up with the evolution of the internet is a complex task, requiring constant updates across a variety of technologies. Every member of the team of specialists here at BJMédia, which includes a dozen experts in their respective fields (SEO, Google, social media, etc.), stays abreast of all of the latest digital trends, announcements and major changes in order to implement effective online marketing strategies that are customized to address the specific needs of each client. We’re happy to put all of our expertise to work for you!