During the past 30 years, the internet has experienced exponential growth. In 1993, there were a mere 200 websites accessible on the World Wide Web. However, as of 2022, there are now an estimated 2 billion websites available online. James Eagle’s animated graphic offers a visual representation of this evolution, depicting the most popular websites from 1993 to the present day.
The 90s to Early 2000s: Dial-Up Internet
The internet has come a long way since it was first introduced in the 1970s. While it was possible to access the early version of the internet, known as the proto-internet, in the 1970s, it wasn’t until the 1990s that the internet became widely accessible and user-friendly in the form we know today. This was made possible through the use of dial-up modems, which allowed users to connect to the internet through an active telephone line.
During the 1990s, there were several different portals that people could use to access the internet, such as Prodigy and CompuServe. However, AOL quickly became the most popular choice, and for nearly a decade, it was the most visited website on the internet. In June 2000, AOL was receiving over 400 million monthly visits, which was a significant achievement considering there were approximately 413 million internet users worldwide at that time.
| Rank | Website | Monthly Visits (May 2000) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | AOL | 400,891,812 |
| 2 | Yahoo | 387,573,587 |
| 3 | MSN | 354,239,803 |
| 4 | eBay | 116,101,785 |
| 5 | Lycos | 116,064,930 |
The early to mid-1990s marked a significant turning point in the evolution of the internet, as it became more accessible and user-friendly, allowing more and more people to explore and connect with each other online.
The Mid 2000s: Yahoo vs. Google
Yahoo was founded in 1994, originally named “Jerry and David’s Guide to the World Wide Web”. However, as the company gained popularity, it changed its name to Yahoo, which stands for “Yet Another Hierarchical Officious Oracle”. At its peak, Yahoo was the most visited website on the internet, with over 5.6 billion visits per month in April 2004. Google, founded in 1998, started out as a simpler and more efficient search engine and quickly gained popularity. In the early 2000s, Google was actually Yahoo’s default search engine until Yahoo decided to switch to its own search engine technology in 2004.
| Rank | Website | Monthly Visits (April 2004) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yahoo | 5,658,032,268 |
| 2 | MSN | 1,838,700,057 |
| 3 | 1,318,276,780 | |
| 4 | AOL | 905,009,947 |
| 5 | eBay | 805,474,705 |
From then on, Google and Yahoo engaged in fierce competition, with both websites taking turns at the top of the most popular list. In the 2010s, Yahoo’s fortunes declined due to missed opportunities and unsuccessful moves, cementing Google’s position as the most popular website, a title it has held until present day in January 2022.
The Late 2000s, Early 2010s: Social Media Enters the Chat
The rise of social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook over the past two decades has been nothing short of remarkable. While MySpace was one of the first social media platforms to gain widespread popularity, it was YouTube and Facebook that truly ushered in a new era for the industry.
One major factor that contributed to their success was the timing of their emergence. Both platforms arrived on the scene around the same time that the smartphone industry was experiencing a major shakeup. The introduction of the iPhone and the App Store in 2008 made it easier than ever to access the internet on mobile devices, paving the way for the widespread adoption of social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook.
| Rank | Website | Monthly Visits (Jan 2007) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7,349,521,929 | |
| 2 | Yahoo | 5,169,762,311 |
| 3 | MySpace | 1,276,515,128 |
| 4 | MSN | 1,259,467,102 |
| 5 | eBay | 957,928,554 |
Today, these platforms remain among the most visited websites on the internet. As of January 2022, YouTube and Facebook are ranked as the second and third most visited websites respectively. Despite the rise of new competitors in the social media space, these platforms have managed to maintain their positions at the top through their constant innovation and adaptation to the changing needs of their users.
The 2020s: Google is Now Synonymous With the Internet
The dominance of Google in the search engine market is undeniable, with the company responsible for approximately 90% of all web searches, mobile searches, and in-app searches. However, it is worth considering what the future may hold for the most popular websites in the coming years. While there is no indication that Google is currently on the decline, it is important to recognize that the landscape of the internet is constantly evolving. It is possible that new contenders could emerge and potentially challenge Google’s position as the leading search engine. History has shown us that it is unwise to become too complacent in any market, and the constantly changing nature of the internet means that it is important for companies to remain adaptable and open to change.
