<![CDATA[How terrible Facebook, Google, and many other popular websites used to look has been revealed in a mind-boggling internet 'time machine']]> https://usagag.com/2022/02/26/how-terrible-facebook-google-and-many-other-popular-websites-used-to-look-has-been-revealed-in-a-mind-boggling-internet-time-machine/ Sat, 26 Feb 2022 08:29:00 +0000 hourly 1 https://usagag.com How terrible Facebook, Google, and many other popular websites used to look has been revealed in a mind-boggling internet 'time machine' The Wayback Machine allows people to step back as far as the ’90s, glimpsing at the basic and awful designs once graced by the likes of Facebook, Google, Amazon and so many more.

With 654 billion pages saved, nostalgic users can enter the name of just about any web address and see whether it’s available.

A calendar view will allow you to virtually turn back time, clicking through some the early days of some sites.

Here are some of the best to look at:

Facebook

A screengrab of Facebook from 2007.
A screengrab of Facebook from 2007. / Courtesy of The Wayback Machine

Facebook.com wasn't first owned by Mark Zuckerberg.

It was previously owned by a US-based corporation.

We were able to negotiate a contract to purchase the domain name only after the social network changed its name from TheFacebook to just Facebook.

Those who were teens in 2007 will recognize this appearance as the most basic.

Google

Google from 1999
A look at Google from 1999.
Courtesy of The Wayback Machine

From the beginning, Google's search engine hasn't altered much.

Since the company was created in 1998, the logo has undergone various changes.

More than just a search engine, it's become much more.

People no longer go to the main Google.com or Google.co.uk addresses, preferring to conduct searches directly in their browser window.

Amazon

Amazon from 2006
A look at Amazon from 2006.
Courtesy of The Wayback Machine

In the early 2000s, Amazon looked entirely different than it does now.

We're quite sure costs were a lot different back then as well...

YouTube

YouTube from 2006
A look at YouTube from 2006.
Courtesy of The Wayback Machine

A decade ago, the most popular video-sharing website was launched.

Exactly a year later, Google purchased it.

Twitter

Twitter from 2008
A look at Twitter from 2008.
Courtesy of The Wayback Machine

Also, Twitter seemed a lot simpler in the naughts, as well.

When it was first developed in 2006, it lacked many of the features it has now.

There was also the fact that until 2017, tweets were only 140 characters long.

Apple

Apple from 2000
A look at Apple from 2000.
Courtesy of The Wayback Machine

In 2000, if you went to apple.com, you would have seen this.

Even if the company's design has changed dramatically, the top menu bar has remained the same.

Netflix

Netflix from 2008
A look at Netflix from 2008.
Courtesy of The Wayback Machine

Postal movie and TV rentals were offered by Netflix prior to the launch of Netflix in the United Kingdom.

Although it continues to offer this service in the United States, the company is now primarily known as a streaming platform around the world.

eBay

eBay from 1999
A look at eBay from 1999.
Courtesy of The Wayback Machine

When eBay began in the 1990s, it created a splash because it allowed people to purchase and sell their relics of the past.

In the past, the website was more simpler.

Hotmail

Hotmail from 1999
A look at Hotmail from 1999.
Courtesy of The Wayback Machine

Even though Hotmail is still going strong, there wasn't much to it in the early days.

Even while Microsoft still owns Hotmail, it used to be a part of MSN back in the day.

Additionally, the naughtiest emoji pairings have been revealed.

By bringing the conventional "blind date" experience online, Tinder has given it a whole new lease on life.

Users who deadname or misgender others will be banned from TikTok under the company's newly published policies.

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