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MySpace, once the most popular social media platform in the world in the mid-2000s, could be returning soon. It comes as many social media users are returning to nostalgic, analog experiences, instead of algorithm-driven ones.
The current owners of the platform, Tim and Chris Vanderhook, who also founded Viant Technology, hinted at the potential relaunch in a documentary titled “MySpace”.
“We still own MySpace. We are stewards of the MySpace brand at this point and we are going to relaunch MySpace. We’re just waiting for the right time to do it. And if that one doesn’t work, we’ll do it again,” said the Vanderhook brothers in the documentary.
The platform was founded in 2003 by Tom Anderson and Chris DeWolfe, leading to the iconic “Tom from MySpace” profile, which was every new user’s first friend.
This potential relaunch follows a previous failed attempt back in 2013, as the company tried to pivot into a niche music discovery dashboard, rather than a fully-fledged social media network.
Back in the 2000s, the platform quickly saw soaring popularity and briefly became the most visited website in the US in 2006, overtaking Yahoo Mail and Google Search in terms of visits.
This was mainly due to users loving its profile customisation options and music integration features. Features like the “Top 8” public ranking of best friends and signature profile soundtracks further contributed to high user engagement.
The platform also effortlessly captured the 2000s “emo” and other alternative subcultures.
However, the platform’s popularity started declining around 2009, mainly due to the rise of Facebook, as it became more difficult to retain advertisers.
A string of ownership and management changes over the years also contributed to declining consumer interest.
Surviving a different market
MySpace could have a key opportunity to capture a wave of younger users, who are currently dealing with rising digital fatigue and are increasingly fascinated by analog devices, simpler social media platforms and early 2000s culture.
Millennial users also still crave MySpace’s authenticity, without the need for endless filters and constant social performance. The brand also still has massive recognition.
However, analysts warn that the platform could still have a tough time relaunching, due to a fundamentally different market compared with the mid-2000s. The current market is highly competitive and overcrowded by giants like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.
As such, trying to compete directly with them could be very challenging and make it considerably more difficult to find advertisers.
The consumer base has also changed fundamentally in the last decade, with users now used to algorithm-driven feeds and content catering to significantly shorter attention spans.
Key markets like the US and EU have also seen rapidly evolving regulatory changes in the last few years, with more scrutiny around digital safety and data privacy.
Previously, MySpace had lost out to Facebook due to the very features that once made it unique — its music and customisation options, which eventually became too loud, cluttered and complicated for users who wanted a cleaner, simpler feed.
As such, the platform will need to find a way to better balance uniqueness with what current users are looking for now, such as clean interfaces and better discoverability, if it is to have a shot at success in today’s market.