| As the popularity of the World Wide Web exploded in the mid-1990s, online magazines emerged as a new form of periodical. These publications contained traditional magazine elements—stories, photographs, and advertising—along with technology-driven features such as Web links, audio and video clips, chat rooms, and continual updating. Some online magazines were offshoots of major print publications, including Sports Illustrated and Forbes, but others were Internet-only ventures, such as Slate (pictured) and Salon. |