Haha, I can still remember how I had learned the 68000 assembler including all CPU registers on an Atari ST.
But something like Google existed quite early. My first (high speed!) acoustic coupler with 300 baud was able to dial into mailboxes with "boards" over the phone. There we talked about everything and also answered questions. Everyone knew everyone and the name of his sister. Those were times
After that there was CompuServ with similar background. And in the early days of the public internet there were Usenet boards. Something like Reddit today, but of course without pictures. To transmit such pictures via 14400 Baud modem took days
I think we're not that far apart, maybe 10-15 years? I was born in the early '70s.