What kind of technological improvements enabled the rapid growth of the Internet?

The rapid growth of the Internet has been significantly driven by the development of faster connections, such as fiber optics and Wi-Fi. Fiber optic technology allows for the transmission of data at incredibly high speeds over long distances with minimal loss of quality, fundamentally transforming how information is shared. This increased bandwidth capacity not only enables users to download and upload data more quickly but also supports a greater number of simultaneous connections without a noticeable decline in performance.

Wi-Fi technology has made it possible for people to connect to the Internet wirelessly, contributing to the accessibility and convenience of Internet use in homes, workplaces, and public spaces. The combination of these advancements has resulted in a much more robust and reliable Internet infrastructure, which in turn encourages more users and devices to connect, further accelerating the growth of online content and services.

While social media platforms, mobile devices, and online advertisement systems have all played essential roles in the Internet's evolution, they are more reliant on the underlying connectivity improvements that make widespread access and user engagement possible. Without the enhanced speed and quality of Internet connections, the functionality and popularity of these other developments would have been limited.