Social network MySpace is reportedly planning to make a comeback over 20 years after it originally launched. At one time, MySpace was the most-visited website in the US, but would ultimately face steep competition from Facebook.
For the unfamiliar, MySpace preceded Facebook, and while the two are both considered to be social media hubs, MySpace handled things quite differently. MySpace users were invited to customize their pages, for example, while Facebook users are limited to working within the confines of the site’s basic profile template. However, Facebook’s popularity ended up soaring past MySpace once it became available to the general public, and despite efforts to relaunch, MySpace has never returned to its position of social media dominance.
MySpace Is Making a Comeback
Now, news has come to light that the current owners of MySpace are planning on making another comeback with the platform. Tim and Chris Vanderhook, the co-founders of Viant Technology, acquired the platform back in 2011. In an interview in the recent MySpace documentary, the brothers talked about their ownership of MySpace. Calling themselves the “stewards” of MySpace, the two revealed that they would be attempting to relaunch the social media site, but didn’t provide a specific time for the planned relaunch, only saying that they’re “waiting for the right time.”
Drag weapons to fill the grid
Drag weapons to fill the grid
EasyMediumHard
The Vanderhooks are also prepared for the possibility that MySpace’s return may not be successful. The two previously attempted to relaunch the service in 2013, but it led to major financial losses as advertisers preferred Facebook over MySpace. Chris Vanderhook estimates that they lost around $150 million in the effort. Despite the major losses and the potential to lose even more, the Vanderhooks have said that if the relaunch doesn’t work, “we’ll do it again.” The two seem to be determined to revive MySpace, though it’s not clear how concrete the plan to bring it back in the current era of social media currently is.
Build your perfect top ten one reveal at a time.
Swap two picks?
Pick two spots to swap before locking in your final ranking.
The current-day social media landscape is vastly different from how it was in the early 2000s when MySpace dominated and Facebook was just starting out. However, not all of the changes have been for the better. Social media has been more maligned in recent years, with a wide spectrum of concerns, like excessive advertisements, the potential influence social media platforms can have on children and politics, overall privacy, and even the use of AI. In theory, if MySpace took the existing problems with popular social media platforms into consideration and avoided them, like not using AI or offering strict parental control options, it’s possible that it could succeed where others are currently faltering.
However, in recent years, newer social media platforms haven’t made a tremendous impact, with platforms often making a big splash at first only to have interest decline. For example, Bluesky drew some users away from Twitter, but has since seen its userbase diminish, with shrinking traffic. Even existing massive companies like Google have failed to take away Meta-owned Facebook’s dominant position, as platforms like Google+ ultimately shut down. Only time will tell if MySpace is successful in making a comeback after all these years.
