When first conceived, the internet was called “The Galactic Network.”

In the 60’s and 70’s, the predecessor to the internet was created by the US Department of Defenses Advanced Research Projects Agency, or ARPA. Known as the ARPANET, this precursor was designed for communication between the different ARPA terminals. Computers were very expensive at this time, so growth on this project was slow. 

The main benefit of ARPANET was the ease of information transfer. After about a decade, ARPANET began to move into a more openly networked internet. It was J.C.R Licklider that came up with the term “Galactic Network” in the early 60’s. He had envisioned a concept of a world wide network in which computers could be linked to one another, allowing anyone with a computer to access and send information to other computers and users. 

ARPANET was obviously just the first step in a long route to the internet we have today. In 1975, the Atari 8800, the first personal computer, made its way onto the market. In 1978, the Apple II was released as the first mass marketed personal computer. In 1985, the first domain name was registered, and in 1989, the first IP services had started being offered. 

In the 90’s, figures like Al Gore and Bill Gates greatly expedited the growth of the internet, and in 1998, Google was founded. By 1999, there were already pirating controversies (thanks to Napster), the world’s first computer virus, and of course the very first site by Emerson Spartz, Mugglenet! 

In 2003 internet users got to know spam, and in 2004 the world was introduced to Facebook. 2005 saw the beginning of Youtube, and 2006 brought Twitter to the world. 

(Source)