Remember the early social media? Friendster was the place to be in the early 2000s long before Facebook took over. Founded by Jonathan Abrams back in March 2002, it eventually faded away and officially shut its doors in 2015.
However, it seems the site has been pulled back from the digital graveyard. A programmer and entrepreneur named Mike Carson is the one behind this unexpected revival, giving the old-school platform a fresh lease of life for a new era.
The new version of Friendster is leaning hard into the idea of genuine socialising. Instead of scrolling through an endless feed of people you do not actually know, the platform is focusing on real-world connections, according to their website.
You will be able to add new friends just by tapping your phones together, which is a pretty clever way to keep things authentic. They are explicitly ditching the suggested strangers model to ensure your network is built entirely from people you have actually met.
Perhaps the biggest draw for those tired of modern social media is the promise of a cleaner, more private experience. There are no ads, no algorithms trying to manipulate your feed, and a strict stance against spam from dummy accounts. On top of that, the platform has made it clear that they will not be selling user data.
For the time being, though, you will need an iPhone if you want to get involved, as the app is currently only available for iOS users.