In a surprising move that has sparked waves of nostalgia across the tech world, an entrepreneur has purchased the domain and name of the once-dominant social network Friendster for $30,000. The buyer, known online as @zohaibility, announced the acquisition on YouTube Shorts, hinting at ambitious plans to revive the platform.
Friendster, which launched in 2002, was a pioneer in social networking before being overtaken by MySpace and later Facebook. It was eventually shut down and auctioned off. The new owner's vision includes a radical change: forcing users to add friends only through real-life interactions, aiming to curb passive scrolling and foster genuine connections.
While details remain scarce, the buyer hinted at building a Progressive Web App (PWA) to ensure broad accessibility across Apple and Android devices. The pitch is clear: a social network that prioritizes authenticity over endless feeds.
Whether this bet on anti-algorithmic socializing can win over a jaded audience remains to be seen, but for $30k, it's a gamble that has already captured the internet's imagination.