The world’s longest-running website, info.cern.ch, has been online since August 6, 1991. Created by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN, it was the very first website ever made—and it’s still accessible today.
But what other early websites still exist? What were the first .com domains, search engines, and social media sites? Let’s explore the internet’s history, answer some of the web’s most searched questions, and uncover the oldest websites that still run today.
Oldest Websites Still Online Today
While info.cern.ch was the first website, other domains hold records for longevity in different ways.
1. info.cern.ch (1991) – The First Website Ever
- Created by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN.
- Hosted the first web pages, explaining how the internet worked.
- Still online today: info.cern.ch.
2. symbolics.com (1985) – The First .com Domain Ever
- Registered on March 15, 1985, by Symbolics Inc.
- Still active today but no longer owned by the original company: symbolics.com.
3. itcorp.com (1986) – One of the Oldest Active Websites
- Registered in 1986 by Interrupt Technology Corporation.
- Has remained online since the 1980s with minimal design changes.
- Visit here: itcorp.com.
4. Space Jam (1996) – The Internet’s Best Time Capsule
- The original website for the 1996 Space Jam movie.
- Still online in its original 90s design: spacejam.com/1996.
How Many Websites Existed in the 1990s?
- 1991: Just one website existed—info.cern.ch.
- 1994: Around 3,000 websites were online.
- 1996: The internet hit over 100,000 websites.
- 1999: The web exploded, surpassing 3 million websites.
🚀 Today, there are over 1.13 billion websites!
What Was the First Website to Go Viral?
The first viral website was The Dancing Baby (1996), a 3D animation of a baby doing the "Oogachaka" dance. It spread through early internet forums, emails, and eventually became one of the first memes.
Other early viral sites:
✔ Hampster Dance (1998) – A webpage with animated dancing hamsters.
✔ All Your Base Are Belong to Us (1999) – A meme based on bad video game translations.
What Was the First Search Engine Ever Created?
The first search engine was Archie (1990). Unlike Google, it only searched for FTP files.
Other early search engines:
- Veronica (1992)
- Aliweb (1993)
- WebCrawler (1994) – The first full-text search engine.
🔍 Google didn’t arrive until 1998!
What Was the First Social Media Website?
The first true social network was SixDegrees.com (1997). It let users create profiles, add friends, and send messages.
Other early platforms:
✔ Friendster (2002) – A pre-Facebook social network.
✔ MySpace (2003) – The internet’s first massive social network.
✔ Facebook (2004) – The start of modern social media.
How Are Old Websites Preserved?
Old websites survive because of:
✔ The Wayback Machine – A tool that archives web pages (Visit Here).
✔ Domain Renewal – Some owners renew domains indefinitely.
✔ Universities & Historical Institutions – They maintain archives of important digital history.
Want to see what your favorite website looked like in the past? Try the Wayback Machine!
What Was the First Online Purchase Ever Made?
The first-ever online transaction happened in 1994 when someone bought a Sting album ("Ten Summoner’s Tales") with encrypted credit card data.
But the first-ever internet transaction? In 1971, researchers at Stanford University used ARPANET to sell weed to students at MIT! 😆
What Is the Longest-Running Online Forum?
The oldest active forum is The WELL (Whole Earth ‘Lectronic Link), founded in 1985. It’s still operational today and was one of the first true online communities.
Other old forums:
✔ Something Awful (1999) – One of the first major comedy forums.
✔ Slashdot (1997) – A forum for tech and internet culture.
How to Keep a Website Running for Decades
Want to ensure your website lasts for decades like the oldest ones? Follow these tips:
✔ Register your domain long-term – Some services let you buy domains for up to 10 years at a time.
✔ Choose a reliable host – Bluehost, SiteGround, and Kinsta are great options for longevity.
✔ Backup your website regularly – Use tools like UpdraftPlus or VaultPress to prevent data loss.
✔ Keep it relevant – Websites that provide historical information or cultural value are more likely to be preserved.
FAQs (People Also Ask Section for SEO)
What is the oldest website still online?
info.cern.ch, created on August 6, 1991, is the oldest website still accessible today.
What was the first .com website ever registered?
symbolics.com, registered on March 15, 1985, was the first-ever .com domain.
Can I still visit old websites from the 1990s?
Yes! Many old websites like Space Jam (1996) and symbolics.com (1985) are still online. You can also use the Wayback Machine to see old versions of sites.
What was the first website to go viral?
The Dancing Baby (1996) animation was one of the first viral sensations on the internet.
How many websites existed in 1995?
By 1995, there were around 23,500 websites online.
Final Thoughts
The internet has changed dramatically since its early days, but some of its oldest websites are still running today. From info.cern.ch (the first website) to symbolics.com (the first .com domain), these sites offer a glimpse into the digital past.
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