History of Digg in Timeline
Digg is a news aggregator and curated front-page website launched in its current form on July 31, 2012. It focuses on selecting articles of interest to an internet audience, covering topics like science, trending political issues, and viral content. Digg also allows users to share content to other social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
November 2004: Digg Launched as an Experiment
In November 2004, Digg started as an experiment by Kevin Rose, Owen Byrne, Ron Gorodetzky, and Jay Adelson.
July 2005: Digg v2 Released
In July 2005, Digg v2 was released with a new interface, friends list, and the ability to "digg" a story without redirection.
2006: Gaming Attempts
In 2006, users seriously attempted to game the site, leading to bans and the formation of a "Bury Brigade".
2006: Sale Attempts Started
Since 2006, Digg had been trying to sell itself to a larger company.
May 1, 2007: AACS Encryption Key Controversy
On May 1, 2007, an article containing the AACS encryption key appeared on Digg, leading to removals, bans, and a widespread user revolt, resulting in Digg reversing its policy.
August 2007: Interface Adjustments
In August 2007, further interface adjustments were made to the Digg website.
2007: Switch to MSN adCenter
In 2007, Digg switched from using Google AdSense to MSN adCenter for monetization.
July 2008: Acquisition Talks with Google Fail
In July 2008, Digg was in talks to be acquired by Google for $200 million, but the deal ultimately fell through.
September 2008: Venture Capital Funding Received
In September 2008, Digg received $28.7 million in venture capital funding to move headquarters and add staff.
2008: Digg's Growing Traffic in 2008
By 2008, Digg's homepage attracted over 236 million annual visitors, and the "Digg effect" was influencing web page traffic.
April 5, 2010: Jay Adelson Steps Down as CEO
On April 5, 2010, Jay Adelson stepped down as CEO to pursue other ventures, and Kevin Rose temporarily took over.
August 2010: Allegations of Politically Motivated Behavior
In August 2010, accusations arose about the 'Digg Patriots' group coordinating politically motivated behavior on Digg, leading to investigations.
August 25, 2010: v4 Release Marred by Issues
On August 25, 2010, Digg's v4 release was plagued with bugs and glitches, leading to user opposition and problems with "power users".
August 30, 2010: "Quit Digg Day"
On August 30, 2010, disgruntled users declared a "quit Digg day", flooding the front page with Reddit content and causing Reddit to welcome fleeing Digg users.
September 1, 2010: Matt Williams Becomes CEO
On September 1, 2010, Matt Williams took over as CEO, replacing Kevin Rose as interim chief executive.
October 12, 2010: Matt Williams Addresses User Concerns
On October 12, 2010, new CEO Matt Williams attempted to address user concerns in a blog post, promising to reinstate removed features.
2010: Major Site Changes
In 2010, CEO Jay Adelson announced major changes to the site, including a complete rewrite and a shift to Cassandra database.
2010: Controversial Redesign
In 2010, Digg underwent a controversial redesign, and co-founders Jay Adelson and Kevin Rose departed.
July 2012: Digg Sold in Three Parts
In July 2012, Digg was sold in three parts.
July 20, 2012: Betaworks to Rebuild Digg
On July 20, 2012, new owners Betaworks announced they were rebuilding Digg from scratch with a six-week deadline.
July 31, 2012: Digg Relaunches
On July 31, 2012, Digg was launched in its current form as a news aggregator with a curated front page, supporting sharing to Twitter and Facebook.
2012: Digg's Popularity in 2012
In 2012, Digg had an estimated 3.8 million monthly U.S. unique visits, and its popularity led to the creation of similar sites like Reddit.
March 14, 2013: Digg Announces RSS Reader
On March 14, 2013, Digg announced that it was developing its own RSS reader in response to Google Reader's shutdown.
June 28, 2013: Digg Reader Launched
On June 28, 2013, Digg Reader was launched as a web and iOS application.
August 29, 2013: Android App Released
On August 29, 2013, an Android app for Digg Reader was released.
2013: Andrew McLaughlin Takes Over as CEO
In 2013, Andrew McLaughlin became CEO after Digg was sold to BetaWorks and relaunched.
September 2016: Data Partnership with Gannett
In September 2016, Digg announced a data partnership with Gannett, providing real-time trend analysis for a "seven figure" investment.
2016: Joshua Auerbach Becomes Interim CEO
In 2016, Joshua Auerbach took over as interim CEO of Digg.
2017: Michael O'Connor Appointed CEO
In 2017, Michael O'Connor took over as CEO of Digg and continues to serve in that role.
March 26, 2018: Digg Reader Shutdown Announced
On March 26, 2018, Digg announced that it would shut down Digg Reader.
April 2018: Digg Acquired by BuySellAds
In April 2018, Digg was purchased by BuySellAds, an advertising company, for an undisclosed amount.
2018: Office Location until 2018
Until its sale to BuySellAds.com in 2018, Digg's offices were located in New York City's Chinatown.
March 8, 2025: Rumored Relaunch of Digg
Rumors suggest that on March 8, 2025, Kevin Rose will purchase Digg back and relaunch it.
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