[TrainedMonkey]

There is an implicit assumption that average mom and grandma were out there using message groups. Either that or you are gate keeping moms and grandmas out of the internet. I am going to assume the former.

Myspace proved social networking worked. Facebook made it easy for non-techies and kicked off the status game. Instagram locked in the dopamine loop. TikTok perfected it.

The internet grew because it got commercialized, which also meant dumbing it down for non-technical people. Funny how that same growth created most of the wealth enjoyed by people posting on YC. Always makes me chuckle when I see good old days of the internet nostalgia here.

[joezydeco]

Facebook made it easy for non-techies and kicked off the status game.

That's all I was trying to say. trn was a bit of a learning curve for moms and grandmas. And they pulled the rest of us along into using Facebook and other social media and leaving USENET behind. No gatekeeping or whatever you're going on about here.