.socialmedia · Chapter 09 of 9 · The long clock

Evaluation is measured in years, not weeks.

This is the part where applicants most often overstate their certainty, so here is the process as it actually runs — and the parts of it we cannot date.

12 August 2026

The application window closed. Our application for .socialmedia is filed.

Evaluation

String similarity review, technical and financial evaluation — ICANN's process, on ICANN's schedule.

Objections & contention

Objection periods, and a defined mechanism for resolving cases where several parties applied for the same or a confusingly similar string. This round replaces the private deal-making of 2012.

Delegation

We do not know exactly when .socialmedia will be available to register, and anyone who tells you they know their delegation date is guessing. We will publish our progress as it happens rather than forecasting it.

You can follow the application at internet.best/new-gtld-applications, and pretty soon you will be able to register interest in a name.

Chapter 08Track RecordNot our first Then Follow the applicationOur ten strings in the 2026 tracker.