The last decade went by just like that and we’ve seen evolutions of many kinds. Technology and the internet changed the world for better or for worse.

The way we understand, consume, and own things are now different from how they were just 10 years ago — from politics, health, culture, entertainment, travel; even the career opportunities available to everyone. Here are the technology that shaped the decade:

1. Short form video

Social media has made consuming and distributing information so much different from how it was many years before. One of the things to transform over the last decade is video.

TikTok

We’re starting the list off with the latest platform to take over the internet: TikTok.

Reminiscent of the now-defunct app Vine, on TikTok users record videos of anything under the sun — from skits, to dance challenges, to cute pets.

A lot of these videos go viral not just on TikTok itself, but on other platforms too. The app is slowly becoming the next generation’s go-to app for sharing their activities on the internet and it’s bound to evolve even further from here.

Snapchat

A few years before TikTok got so popular, millennials used Snapchat — and a lot of people still do.

The idea behind the app is simple, yet unheard of at the time of its launch. Everything you post, whether a photo or video, disappears within 24 hours.

Instagram

Not long after, Instagram copied the feature and called it Instagram Stories. Even though Instagram has long been the go-to platform for sharing mundane, everyday photos, it’s also evolved to a host of highly curated photos with themes, and grids.

Most recently, Instagram also launched IGTV, its answer to YouTube’s popularity.

Because of all its features, the app has created an entire industry of creators and influencers.

2. Livestreaming, YouTube, and other video creators

Speaking of industry, content creation and livestreaming on the internet became a thing this decade, too. It’s spurred new jobs and business opportunities that no one before thought was possible…

Twitch

Apps like Twitch has allowed gamers to make a living out of streaming the games that they play including their reactions. Many users, even non-gamers, enjoy watching them.

YouTube

The market for these kinds of videos is so huge that on YouTube, the most popular channel is Swedish gamer PewDiePie. This year he surpassed the 100 million subscriber mark. No other YouTuber is even remotely close to reaching as many subscribers any time soon.

But the platform has become so popular that a lot of other users thrive off of it enough to make a living — from us tech YouTubers, beauty vloggers, to comedians — even kids! So much so that the highest-paid creator for the last two years is 8-year-old Ryan of Ryan’s World.

Facebook Live

It’s worth mentioning that Facebook Live and Instagram Live have also become another go-to platform for a lot of people. Us at GadgetMatch use them to answer questions and share unboxing experiences with you guys in real time.

3. Content streaming

This decade we didn’t just stream user-generated content; the way we consume movies, TV shows, and music also changed. Gone are the days of renting and buying DVDs, iPods, record players. Now we access everything with a few taps on our smartphones…

Spotify

I don’t know about you but all of my music I listen to on apps like Spotify and Apple Music. Instead of buying albums and owning multiple physical records, a subscription on these platforms gives me access to all my favorite artists and songs — on the go!

Netflix

The same goes for movies and TV shows. Everything can be played on demand with apps like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, and Amazon Prime Video.

You can watch them anywhere, and on any screen with friends, or family — even alone. Who says you have to go to the movies on your own when you can just do it at the comforts of your own home?

4. Communication and human interactions

Netflix and chill with your significant other especially in winter is fun, too. Asking someone out to the movies is still pretty common, but meeting people and dating have also evolved in the last 10 years.

Tinder

Today, the act of swiping has taken on a whole new meaning — to swipe is to want to meet a stranger.

Dating apps like Tinder and Bumble have made it possible to connect people who are worlds apart, literally and figuratively.

Whatsapp

It’s not just the way we form romantic relationships that changed; messaging apps like Whatsapp, iMessage, Messenger, and LINE have made talking to friends and family easier and a lot faster.

Conversations now unfold on our screens that often times we forget to put our phones down to talk in real life.

Emoji, stickers, and memes

Of course, not everyone is able to convey tone and context with just texting. With the help of emoji, stickers, and memes, communicating with someone miles apart has become more interactive and dynamic like never before.

5. Sharing Economy

Having your own car or office has become optional for a lot of people thanks to the boom of the sharing economy.

Uber

Apps like Uber, Lyft, Grab, and Gojek have not only become an alternative to taxis, they’ve completely changed the face of mobility.

Millennials especially are choosing to use ride-sharing apps to get to their day-to-day — eliminating the need to worry about parking space, maintenance, and other responsibilities that come with driving your own car.

Airbnb

Why book a hotel when you can stay at a house with a kitchen, washer and dryer, and live like a local? That’s the idea behind Airbnb.

I personally love using Airbnb when traveling. Aside from being cheaper, you also get a chance to meet your hosts and make new friends all around the world.

6. Cash alternatives

More and more businesses and cities have been going cashless, but in many places it’s not just about having a credit card.

Mobile payments

In China for example, WeChat Pay or AliPay have become more common than both credit card and cash payments. In the US, there’s Venmo.

Even Facebook has Facebook Pay, LINE has LINE Pay, Samsung has Samsung Pay, Apple has Apple Pay. You get the picture. Maybe one day wallets will become a thing of the past, too.

Block chain

And then there’s block chain. It’s not necessarily become as widespread as we’d hoped but both startups and bigger companies use it as an alternative to wiring money abroad and pay salaries to employees who live in other countries, mainly to avoid losing a lot of money foreign exchange rates.

7. Hashtags

The use of hashtags have also changed over the years. From merely an identifier of tweets and instagram posts, hashtags have been used to spread awareness for illnesses (#icebucketchallenge), spark movements (#metoo) and give voice to the oppressed (#blacklivesmatter), and protest, start revolutions, and even oust governments (#arabspring).

8. Ports

And now, to hardware. While a lot of ports evolved there are those that are also dying.

USB-C

USB-C is slowly replacing other ports for data transfer, charging — even audio listening.

3.5mm audio jack

The headphone jack is starting to become obsolete in a lot of devices as brands seek to make phones and laptops more compact and portable.

The last decade has also seen concept devices without any ports at all… but we probably won’t see those come to fruition until the next few years.

9. Big Display

Probably the most notable change that we’ve seen is that on the tangible thing we interact with the most in our day to day: the smartphone display.

Galaxy Note

Initially mocked by Apple founder Steve Jobs when it launched, the Samsung Galaxy Note was the first to popularize the form factor of phones we’re enjoying today.

Now the big display is common, and small phones the rare Pokemon.

Notch

In more recent years manufacturers have been finding ways to make the big display experience even better. They removed bezels and used the infamous notch instead.

The experience has been a hit or miss; I personally don’t mind it as much.

Pop-up camera

Another solution that brands have come up with is the pop/up camera.

Although really cool at first we know this is pretty temporary until tech like underdisplay cameras become more developed.

Foldable

Last but not the least, while it hasn’t exactly shaped the decade, the foldable display is paving the way for the next one.

Based on what we’ve seen so far, it’s going to be really exciting. We can’t wait for it to develop and reach its peak, and forever change the way we use our devices.

Which tech changed the way you live the most? And which one are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below!