Within a year of its official launch on September 2, 2000, (predating services such as Facebook, MySpace and Friendster), the network was populated by thousands of teenagers from over 100 countries.
One of TIG's main offerings is its Online Community, which "guides users to a deeper awareness of social, economic, and environmental issues."
"[5] There are a number of tools that users can use, from managing projects, participating in discussion boards, signing petitions and writing blogs.
[10] Membership is free, and is done in keeping with the organization’s privacy policies, to aid freedom of expression, information and online security of its members.
Another concern was the need to initiate selective sponsorship onto its website, in order to fund its increasing impact, and its need to incorporate a more exclusive approach to its membership, without being seen as a "sell-out.