The History of GIFs
Gabriella Harris
What are GIFs?
Simply stated, GIFs are animated images. They aren’t necessarily images, and they aren't necessarily videos. They are moving images void of any sound. GIFs have a specific format that is different from JPEGs and PNG files. They allow for multiple images to be stored within the file while using a very small amount of storage. They are tiny sources of humor that allow us to communicate in today’s online world. Similar to emojis, GIFs allow us to convey emotions, reactions, feelings, and much more. They are used in messaging and all over social media.
Fun Fact! GIF’s predate the existence of the internet by two years!
GIF History
In 1987, the developer of the GIF, Steve Wilhite, needed to create a way for an image to be displayed on a computer while also saving memory and storage. From this idea, the GIF was born. This new image format allowed for the sharing of images from computer to computer. It was called the Graphics Interchange Format (GIF), and was at first only still images. They eventually evolved to a series of images that would continuously loop to display what almost seemed like a continuous short video. In 1989, the GIF was patented by a company called Unisys, and was eventually boycotted by users saying they would use an unpatented image file similar to a PNG. Right when the GIF’s popularity seemed to be tanking, it’s popularity skyrocketed on social media and was seen everywhere. Jumping from platform to platform, GIFs gained a large amount of popularity on social media sites including MySpace, tumblr, and Pinterest. They also became a staple for website development, and even expanded to instant messaging.
Fun Fact! GIF developer, Steve Wilhite, pronounces GIF similar to the JIFF peanut butter and NOT similar to ‘Gift’.
GIFs Today and why we Should use Them.
The internet has seen its share of popular GIFs and still can’t seem to get enough of them. Everywhere you look on social media, GIFs are being utilized. They decorate websites and articles, cover Buzzfeed pages, express emotions and feelings over texts and emails, and very much more. In 2017 alone, over 100 million GIFs were shared over Twitter. So yes it’s true we see GIFs everywhere, but why? Does this mean these tiny images are important? The answer is yes! Many brands use GIFs on their social medias in order to connect emotionally with their consumers. Using GIFs to portray emotions or meanings help people relate with a brand and feel more connected with them. Brands who use GIFs appear to be more authentic and strike up more engagement from their audiences. This makes it easy to say that GIFs have become an effective marketing tool. Unlike longer videos, GIFs are better able to display a specific thought or idea in a much shorter amount of time. This caters to the shorter attention span of online shoppers and viewers. Not only do GIFs do a great job of allowing you to connect with your customers, but GIFs are also easy to share. If someone sees something they like, they can share that GIF from your website, eventually raking you in more views.
Fun Fact: The first colored picture on the internet was a GIF!
Summary
Evidently, the small looping image from 1987 has easily become one of today's most popular marketing tools. From connecting to consumers on emotional levels, to decorating websites, and even just sharing a funny message, GIFs have truly taken over and are here to stay. They have come a long way and are constantly adapting to new forms of social media. GIFs are great tools to implement if you are wishing to appear as more light hearted, or even more relatable. GIFs are a form of communication within themselves and it is important that we adapt if we want to continue using them.
Sources:
https://www.howtogeek.com/441185/what-is-a-gif-and-how-do-you-use-them/
https://www.wix.com/blog/2017/11/gifs-in-social-media/
https://mashable.com/2012/10/19/animated-gif-history/