The long history of the internet forums (aka internet boards)

The Rise and Evolution of Internet Forums

An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages.^[1] They differ from chat rooms in that messages are often longer than one line of text, and are at least temporarily archived. Also, depending on the access level of a user or the forum set-up, a posted message might need to be approved by a moderator before it becomes publicly visible.

Forums have a specific set of jargon associated with them; for example, a single conversation is called a "thread", or topic.

A discussion forum is hierarchical or tree-like in structure; a forum can contain a number of subforums, each of which may have several topics. Within a forum's topic, each new discussion started is called a thread and can be replied to by as many people as they so wish.

Depending on the forum's settings, users can be anonymous or have to register with the forum and then subsequently log in to post messages. On most forums, users do not have to log in to read existing messages.

Internet forums and message boards were some of the earliest forms of social media, launching in the late 1970s and gaining mainstream popularity in the 1990s. They were the first platforms that allowed people to connect and communicate online. While forums still exist today, they have been largely replaced by more modern social networks. However, their impact on online communities and communication was enormous.

The First Forums: Bulletin Board Systems

The earliest digital forums were known as Bulletin Board Systems or BBSes. They emerged in the late 1970s and allowed users to connect to a central system via phone lines and modems to read and post messages. Popular BBSes focused on topics like gaming, hacking, and software. In the 1980s, there were over 60,000 BBSes across North America. However, their popularity declined rapidly with the introduction of the commercial internet in the 1990s.

The Rise of Web-Based Forums

In the mid-1990s, web-based internet forums started gaining popularity. Some of the earliest included WebEx and The Motley Fool. These allowed multiple users to connect and communicate through a shared web interface. Web-based forums introduced features like moderation, subscriptions, and threaded discussions.

Popular Early Forums: Usenet and Yahoo Groups

Two of the most popular early web forums were Usenet and Yahoo Groups. Usenet launched in 1980 and was one of the first global discussion forums. It revolved around "newsgroups" focused on various topics. However, it declined in popularity in the 1990s due to lack of moderation and spam issues.

Yahoo Groups launched in 1998 and made forums more user-friendly. It allowed anyone to create their own community and discussion forum. Yahoo Groups had millions of users and over 10 million groups at its peak. However, it also declined in the 2000s due to competition from modern social platforms.

The Golden Age: 2000 to 2010

The 2000s were the golden age for internet forums and message boards. Advancements in technology, social connectivity, and ecommerce led to an explosion of new forums. Popular platforms included Reddit (launched in 2005), 4chan (launched in 2003), and phpBB (launched in 2000).

Forums became central hubs for niche communities to connect around specific interests, hobbies, and subcultures. They were also popular for product support, Q&A, and ecommerce. Many major websites launched their own forums to build community and user loyalty.

Forum

Decline and Evolution

After 2010, the popularity of forums started to decline rapidly due to the rise of modern social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit. While traditional forums still exist, most online communities now interact through broader social platforms.

However, the legacy of forums lives on. They pioneered concepts like online communities, user moderation, and threaded discussions that shaped social media. Popular platforms like Reddit have also adopted a forum-like structure. And in some corners of the internet, traditional forums remain popular for their anonymity and tight-knit communities.

Though largely forgotten, internet forums were instrumental in shaping how we connect, interact, and communicate online today. They represent an important chapter in the evolution of social media and the broader internet.

The Impact and Influence of Forums

Forums had an enormous influence on online communities and communication. Some of their most significant impacts include:

•Niche communities. Forums allowed people with niche interests to find and connect with each other online. This led to the formation of tight-knit communities that shaped users' identities and relationships.

•Anonymity and privacy. Forums often allowed a high degree of anonymity. This gave users the freedom to explore and discuss sensitive topics without revealing their real identity. However, it also enabled issues like trolling and cyberbullying.

•Knowledge sharing. Forums were instrumental for sharing knowledge and advice on various topics. They allowed people to ask questions and get recommendations from more experienced community members. This lives on today in platforms like Quora, Reddit, and specialized forums.

•Subcultures. Forums gave rise to online subcultures by providing a gathering space for niche communities. These subcultures often developed their own values, lingo, and media. Examples include hacker culture, gamer culture, and fan culture.

•Trolling and toxic behavior. Unfortunately, the anonymity of forums also fostered trolling and other toxic behaviors. Lack of moderation and accountability on some forums allowed for rampant bullying, extremism, and abuse. This highlighted the need for moderation that still applies to online communities today.

•FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). Forums produced a sense of FOMO, especially in tight-knit communities. The desire to stay on top of the latest news, drama, and inside jokes kept people coming back. This FOMO effect is seen in many modern social platforms as well.

•Trendsetting. Forums were instrumental in setting trends that spread through online communities and into mainstream culture. Many slang terms, viral videos, memes, and other media first gained popularity on forums before spreading more widely.

•Ecommerce. Forums were also important for ecommerce, allowing people to review products, ask questions, and engage with brands. This helped build trust and loyalty between companies and their customers. Modern platforms like Reddit and Quora continue to serve an important purpose for ecommerce and customer support.

While forums have evolved into broader social networks, their impact on online communities, communication, and culture was monumental. They set precedents for both good and bad aspects of social media that remain relevant today. Although simple by modern standards, forums were the first to demonstrate the power of online communities and real-time global communication. They shaped digital culture and built the foundation for all social platforms that came after them.

The Precursors to Modern Web Forums

Before the rise of web-based forums in the 1990s, there were several early online platforms that pioneered concepts like digital communities, public messaging, and user-generated content. These include:

•Bulletin Board Systems (BBSes): BBSes emerged in the late 1970s and allowed users to connect to a central system via phone lines and modems to read and post messages. They focused on topics like gaming, hacking, and software and had over 60,000 systems at their peak. However, BBSes declined rapidly with the commercial internet.

•Usenet: Launched in 1980, Usenet was one of the first global discussion forums. It consisted of "newsgroups" organized by topic. Usenet introduced features like threaded discussions but declined in the 1990s due to lack of moderation and overrun by spam.

•The WELL: Launched in 1985, The WELL (Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link) was one of the earliest online communities. It revolved around message boards and chat rooms on a variety of topics. The WELL attracted an influential community of technologists, journalists, and activists. It showcased the potential of online communities but remained niche.

•AOL Chat Rooms: AOL's chat rooms, launched in 1985, popularized real-time chat and messaging. They covered a range of topics and interests, allowing people to connect at a massive scale. However, they declined rapidly as open web forums gained popularity in the late 1990s.

•Delphi Forums: Delphi Forums launched in 1981 and was one of the first major commercial online services. It offered news and information as well as public chat rooms and forums on various topics. Delphi Forums showcased early ecommerce models but failed to compete with the open web.

•CompuServe: CompuServe, launched in 1969, was a major commercial online service. In the 1980s, it introduced chat rooms, message boards, and interest groups on a range of topics. CompuServe gained millions of users but struggled in the 1990s with the rise of open web services and ultimately shut down in 2009.

•Prodigy: Prodigy was a pioneering online service launched in 1984. It offered content and tools for banking, shopping, news, weather, sports, and messaging. Prodigy had over 2 million users at its peak but failed to keep up with the open web and shut down in 1999.

These early online platforms introduced concepts that would become central to web forums and modern social networks. However, they were walled gardens that failed to compete as the open web gained popularity. They lacked the freedom, customization, and niche communities that would drive the success of web forums in the 1990s and 2000s.

Still, these precursors showcased the potential for global communication and digital communities at a massive scale. They set the stage for web forums to adopt and expand on their models, taking online communities in new directions. Without these pioneering platforms, web forums may have developed quite differently or taken longer to emerge. They represent an important chapter in the evolution of social media, even if they were ultimately unable to survive the transition to the open web.

The early ancestors of web forums demonstrated both the promise and challenges of building online communities. Their legacy lives on in the platforms that came after them, for better and for worse.