*20
Depends on definitions.
1978 for BBS vs either 1974 for the publication of TCP itself, or 1982/1983 for deployment of the same TCP/IP we use today, or 1976 for X.25, or 1977 for the first actual live interconnection of multiple packet switched networks.
Perhaps better phrased: BBS predate the web (http+html) and the modern internet. Gopher doesn't count ;)
Depends on definitions.
1978 for BBS vs either 1974 for the publication of TCP itself, or 1982/1983 for deployment of the same TCP/IP we use today, or 1976 for X.25, or 1977 for the first actual live interconnection of multiple packet switched networks.
Perhaps better phrased: BBS predate the web (http+html) and the modern internet. Gopher doesn't count ;)