The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use TCP/IP protocols to link devices worldwide. It consists of private, public, academic, and government networks that connect via wireless and wired technologies. The Internet carries a wide range of information and services including social media, websites, email, online games, file sharing and more. Its origins can be traced back to the 1960s for military and academic research networks, and it has grown exponentially since the 1990s with the rise of commercial networks and the World Wide Web.