PSA to All Millennials: Friendster Is Back!
The Y2K platform will work a little differently this time, though.
by Kyla Villena
Published on May 7, 2026
The past continues to reinvent itself in modern times, as seen in the resurgence of countless Y2K trends. This goes beyond fashion and beauty—social media platforms are getting a makeover, too! The latest testament to this is the comeback of a well-loved website that existed years before Facebook and TikTok did.
Friendster Is Back, and There’s No Algorithm Involved
In 2002, Jonathan Abrams founded Friendster with the intent to connect people with one another. It was one of the most dominant platforms for some time, with a desktop format that carried a heart of customization, which remains recognizable today. Most will agree that it helped lay the foundation for the internet landscape we enjoy today.
It centered on profiles at that time, serving as a means to introduce and present oneself. In 2011, there was an attempt to keep up with the ever-shifting world of social media. Friendster transitioned from a social network to a gaming site. However, it was surpassed by its competitors, and that eventually led to it ceasing its operations in 2015.
More than 10 years later, Friendster is back!
Currently available as a free application on iOS devices only, it does not exactly take its signature Y2K design. However, the premise remains similar—one that appears necessary in an algorithm-driven world.
The new version of Friendster is simple and straightforward. It connects you only with your friends, without the clutter of advertisements, spam, and algorithms. This is especially appealing to social media users who are tired of content-saturated platforms that may be overrun with bots.
The Friendster we have today also lacks public follower systems, encouraging users to post for the sake of posting rather than being driven by the intent to garner engagement or go viral. Content is also limited to people you actually know. Users are required to physically tap their phones together, extending interactions that already exist in the real world. With that said, there is also no discovery feature that feeds users content outside of their network.
Would you join Friendster in 2026?
Kyla Villena loves a good lip gloss and a trip to the art gallery. She is Preview's beauty girl, who doubles as a self-proclaimed motivational speaker.