- In the 1970s, protocols for transferring information over the internet were developed, and in the early 1980s new groups and email emerged. Tim Berners-Lee is considered the father of the internet and creator of the World Wide Web in 1991. The internet is a vast collection of global networks that allows people to share information and communicate internationally. It requires a computer, modem, phone line, software, and internet service provider to connect. Common internet uses include communication, research, entertainment, and e-commerce.