Protecting children from the dark side of the internet With names like TikTok, WeChat and Instagram, you might think social media is brand new. However, it's quite the contrary. Posted at 4:07 PM, Feb 03, 2021 and last updated 2021-02-03 18:29:22-05 (WXYZ) â With names like TikTok, WeChat and Instagram, you might think social media is brand new. However, it's quite the contrary. Social media has been around for more than 40 years with Use-Net first appearing in 1979. Now, more than 30 years later, it took off like a rocket when Facebook appeared in 2006. But in 2021, after the Capitol riot, misinformation has gone wild and people are getting blocked from sites. So how do you navigate social media? Well, you better know the rules of the social networking game.