Google Groups

Google Groups
Developer(s)Google
Initial releaseFebruary 12, 2001; 23 years ago (2001-02-12)
TypeNewsgroups, electronic mailing lists
Websitegroups.google.com

Google Groups is a service from Google that provides discussion groups for people sharing common interests. Until February 2024, the Groups service also provided a gateway to Usenet newsgroups, both reading and posting to them,[1] via a shared user interface. In addition to accessing Google groups, registered users can also set up mailing list archives for e-mail lists that are hosted elsewhere.[2]

Google Groups became operational in February 2001, following Google's acquisition of Deja's Usenet archive. Deja News had been operational since March 1995.

Google Groups allows any user to freely conduct and access threaded discussions, via either a web interface or e-mail. There are at least two kinds of discussion groups: forums specific to Google Groups (like mailing lists)[3] and Usenet groups, accessible by NNTP, for which Google Groups acts as gateway and unofficial archive. The Google Groups archive of Usenet newsgroup postings dates back to 1981.[4]

On December 15, 2023, Google announced that Google Groups would end support posting or viewing new Usenet content on February 22, 2024, with existing archives remaining available.[5]

  1. ^ "What is a Usenet Newsgroup?". Google Groups Help Center. Archived from the original on April 20, 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  2. ^ "Can I use Google Groups to archive another mailing list?". Google Groups Help Center. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  3. ^ "How do I create my own group?". Google Groups Help Center. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  4. ^ "How far back does Google's Usenet archive go?". Google Groups Help Center. Archived from the original on October 26, 2007. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  5. ^ "Google Groups ending support for Usenet - Google Groups Help". support.google.com. Retrieved December 15, 2023.