SHAPING WHAT’S NEXT IN MEDIA

Last chance to save on Digiday Publishing Summit passes is February 9

SECURE YOUR SEAT

Throwback Thursday video: How AOL urged America online

As the 1990s dawned, so, too, did the Internet era. The totems of the new age were the dial-up signal and the ubiquitous AOL CD. In February 1991, AOL for DOS was launched using a GeoWorks interface, followed a year later by AOL for Windows. Toward the end of the decade, its subscriber base swelled to the 10 million mark. In 1998, the film “You’ve Got Mail” confirmed AOL’s iconic e-mail greeting’s status as a cultural touchstone.

For the first time, it seemed as if just about anything and everything was at our fingertips. Owning your own email address was a novelty, and real-time chats were thrilling. Social currency was measured by how many friends you had on Instant Messenger. AOL may be more of an advertising technology company today, but for Throwback Thursday, we’re celebrating the ads that helped fuel America Online’s race down the information superhighway.

More in Media

A running list of publisher lawsuits targeting Google’s ad tech practices

Digiday has compiled a running list of publishers’ lawsuits against Google for its ad tech practices, seeking compensation for claimed lost revenue.

From vibes to data: Why some brands use predictive tech to vet creators

Brands like TheRealReal and Shark Ninja are turning to predictive models and datasets to guide their strategies.

In Graphic Detail: The puny nature of regulatory fines compared to Big Tech’s financial prowess

Big Tech could pay off over $7 billion in 2025 fines in less than one month, demonstrating the disparity between regulatory bite and corporate wealth.