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BBS was a popular craze in the US from the 1980s to mid-1990s, offering online connectivity and social communities. Most were free, but some offered illegal downloads. Today, USENET newsgroups and internet forums have replaced BBS as online discussion platforms.
A BBS (Bulletin Board System) is a independently managed computer system that allows users to log on using a modem and terminal software. Once connected, the visitor can download files, read news, exchange messages with other users or view other content provided by the system. In the United States, bulletin boards were a popular craze from the 1980s through the mid-1990s. In 1995, the Internet went graphic with the World Wide Web, allowing for easy access through preconfigured Windows-based Internet software such as NetCruiser. The popularity of the text-based bulletin board quickly faded.
In its day, the BBS provided the first taste of online connectivity to many people. As telephone rates charged for long distance calls, most of the users on a BBS were local. This made it possible to meet offline, and once friendships were established in the system, social communities often grew. Many had regular, organized face-to-face meetings.
Most BBSes were free, although some were paid. In most cases, the commissioned boards offered pornography or illegal software downloads such as operating systems or other pirated materials. These cards usually had a screening process and special protocols in the login process in an attempt to weed out unwanted or law enforcement. In many ways, these systems laid the foundation for the experience that would come to the internet. Even today, many bulletin board users from the 1980s and 1990s refer to USENET newsgroups as “bulletin boards” as a throwback to the original system.
Today, USENET newsgroups provide the bulletin board equivalent for online discussion. Also, many websites have Internet forums where users can exchange messages on various topics. The Internet Forum modernizes the BBS and integrates it into the graphical environment of the World Wide Web. While these forums have flourished due to their easy access, USENET newsgroups provide a much more efficient environment for in-depth discussions.
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