Jun
21
TIME Digital's 1998 "Cyber Elite"
A late-night browsing session landed me on this gem from ten years ago. Some highlights:
- It’s been said before, but reading the description of GeoCities from 1998 really drives home the fact that online social networking dates back to the beginning of the web.
- DoubleClick is really old school. It’s crazy to think of them integrating with Google. Also, there’s a reminder of how controversial cookies were on the early web: “Using controversial software called cookies, DoubleClick sites can snoop on users’ browsing habits, sometimes picking up such critical information as zip codes”.
- Rupert Murdoch’s internet ambitions were already apparent.
- Joe Nacchio was not on trial.
- Even before the iPod, Jonathan Ive was recognized for his visionary designs.
TIME also showed an early awareness of the web’s global reach, highlighting Japanese, Chinese, and Brazilian leaders.
Historical artifacts like these have helped bring perspective to my first two and a half years in the Valley. For another historical reference, check out an old Forbes article about the aftermath of Yahoo’s first major acquisition spree.
