Which publisher was the first to implement a system of altmetrics and in what year?

The answer identifies PLoS as the first publisher to implement a system of altmetrics in 2010. Altmetrics, or alternative metrics, are a way to measure the impact of scholarly articles and research outputs through non-traditional means, such as social media mentions, online discussions, and other forms of digital engagement. PLoS, recognizing the evolving nature of scholarly communication and the need for more immediate, actionable insights into the impact of research, pioneered this approach.

This initiative by PLoS marked a significant shift in how the influence of scientific research could be assessed beyond conventional citation counts. By implementing altmetrics, PLoS allowed researchers, institutions, and the public to have a more nuanced view of how research is being utilized and perceived in real-time. This development has since encouraged many other publishers to adopt similar metrics to gauge engagement and influence, highlighting PLoS’s influential role in the evolution of scholarly publishing.