The usage of social media has increased dramatically over the years not only in India but throughout the world. The birth of social media can be attributed to the launch of Indian social media sites like Orkut and Google Plus in the early 2000s.
Orkut, a Brazilian social network, was launched in India in 2004 by Google. It quickly grew in popularity with its unique features like communities and forums. It was the first platform to bring social media to Indian audiences.
Google Plus, India’s first homegrown social media platform, was launched in 2011. It gained traction very quickly and became the second-largest social media platform in India in 2014. It allowed users to create their profiles, post updates, and use features like Hangouts and Communities.
Facebook, the world’s largest social media platform, was made available in India in 2008. After its launch, Facebook rapidly gained popularity. It quickly became the largest social media platform in India, overtaking Orkut, and continued to be so by the end of 2019.
Twitter, the micro-blogging site, was launched in India in 2009. By 2014, it had gained significant traction in India and became popular among celebrities, politicians, and influencers.
LinkedIn, a professional networking site, was made available in India in 2009. It quickly gained popularity and was used by professionals for job-searching, connecting with recruiters, and networking.
YouTube, the world's largest video-sharing platform, was made available in India in 2005. It quickly gained popularity with its users uploading videos related to comedy, music, tutorials, etc.
Instagram, the photo-sharing app, was launched in India in 2012. It quickly became popular with many users uploading pictures and videos on a daily basis.
Since then, other social media platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, and Pinterest have also launched in India and gained widespread popularity.
Therefore, the usage of social media started in India in 2004 with Orkut and has grown tremendously ever since.
