Decades

Rise of the gig economy

2008

Mobile apps enabled temporary, flexible jobs. The entire process, from finding a job, accepting it, completing it, to getting paid, often takes place through the mobile app.

Rise of cyberbullying

2007

Cyberbullying has escalated as more people connect online, affecting many, especially youths. Persistent, invasive, and often anonymous, this form of harassment can occur...

M-Pesa enables mobile payment economy in Kenya

2007

M-Pesa is a virtual banking system that uses a SIM card to provide transaction services. The system allows users to deposit, transfer, and withdraw funds using their mobile...

iPhone released

2007

The release of the iPhone in 2007 revolutionized the smartphone setting a new standard and changing how we interact with technology. Steve Jobs famously described the iPhone...

Infinite scroll invented

2006

Infinite scroll is a design technique used where content continuously loads as the user scrolls down the page or screen. Popular on social media platforms like Instagram and...

Flash mobs

2003

Popular in the mid-2000s, flash mobs are sudden gatherings of people, often for entertainment or artistic purposes. Organizers usually told participants when and where to...

BlackBerry 5810 released

2002

RIM unveiled the BlackBerry 5810 as its first smartphone. It was marketed as a “breakthrough in wireless convergence that delivers email, phone, SMS, browser, and organizer...

“Thumb tribe” emerges in Japan

2001

The "thumb tribe" or "thumb generation" refers to the tech-savvy youth who grew up using mobile phones with touchscreens, relying on their thumbs for texting and navigating...

September 11th (9/11) attacks

2001

When terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, cell phones played a vital role. People trapped in the buildings, passengers on hijacked planes, and...

Patriot Act passed

2001

The Patriot Act, hastily passed after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, was a law in the United States. It granted the government increased surveillance powers to investigate and...