How long has "shipping" been a thing?

It depends on whether you consider the mid 1990s "more recent". After all that is 20 years ago at this point.

Weellllll.... I AM one of the more "older" fans on here. bah ha ha

The actual term "shipping" was originated in the mid-1990s by internet fans of the TV show The X-Files, who believed the two main characters, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, should be or were engaged in a romantic relationship.They called themselves "relationshippers," at first;[3][4] then R'shipper,[5] 'shipper, and finally just shipper.[6]

I think I meant it more as a teacher hearing it used as a daily term. It's definitely been more within the past 5-6 years of hearing it used as a more common term, rather than used in sci-fi fandoms.

The term "ship" is more recent slang. But the act of putting characters together is nothing new. And as many here have mentioned, with the up-tick of social media based groups, the loud/determinded voices are now being heard, and in some cases...trying to shove down our throats their desires.

It depends on whether you consider the mid 1990s "more recent". After all that is 20 years ago at this point.

The actual term "shipping" was originated in the mid-1990s by internet fans of the TV show The X-Files, who believed the two main characters, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, should be or were engaged in a romantic relationship.They called themselves "relationshippers," at first;[3][4] then R'shipper,[5] 'shipper, and finally just shipper.[6]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shipping_(fandom)

I believe back then the enemies of the shippers were the noromos (the ones who wanted no romantic relationship between Mulder and Scully). So maybe it is term to unearth that term again for Supergirl

The term "ship" is more recent slang. But the act of putting characters together is nothing new. And as many here have mentioned, with the up-tick of social media based groups, the loud/determinded voices are now being heard, and in some cases...trying to shove down our throats their desires.

Definitely since the original Star Trek and also since the original X-Files. But I think in the past people used to actually be more undercover about it, that people would think they are corny or silly. Now shippers in all kinds of fandom often act like it's their right to dictate the show.

I remember the story of a soap opera actress who got attacked and shaken about at a supermarket because "she" had lied about paternity of her baby (really her fictional character).

Far too long....

Shipping has been around for a while. It's said that part of the reason Louisa May Alcott put Jo with that professor was the Jo/Laurie shippers sending her letters, demanding she make their ship happen.

The reason it's gotten so toxic is that social media has put viewers is direct contact with the producers and writers and now they think they can sway the story as they like. It doesn't help that some shows respond to this "feedback" which makes viewers feel more in control than they should.

"Fanfiction dates back to the days of Star Trek I think, maybe even further. "

Yes, fan fiction goes back even further than the original Star Trek TV show of the 60s. But it first became a "big thing" among Star Trek fans. In those days, the Star Trek fan fiction stories were published by fans, in their own privately-printed fan magazines. (That's all they had back then

I think it has been around quite a while but like Drafting Drafter mentioned it is just much easier to communicate about it now. Fanfiction has also grown a lot with social media and the internet. Also with social media people say whatever they want with more anonymity.

Oh gosh shipping has been around for a very long time. Fanfiction dates back to the days of Star Trek I think, maybe even further.

With the advancement of technology in more recent years, I believe that shipping has grown exponentially. And with this growth came the awful shipping wars (that our fandom has found itself in the midst of). It's so easy to connect with like-minded shippers nowadays, so it's become easier to create momentum behind ships.