Friendster returns after 10 years

Millennials, did you have Friendster’s comeback on your 2026 bingo card?

More than a decade after its shutdown, the once-dominant social media platform has returned this April and is now available as an app for Apple (iOS) users.

In its 2026 version, Friendster’s premise is simple: a return to a more straightforward app that helps you stay connected with your real-life friends.

Here are its unique selling propositions:

Friends only: There are no “suggested strangers” on your feed. You can add friends à la infrared style by bringing your phones together while both Friendster apps are open.

No ads, no algorithms: Friendster says it has no advertisements or algorithm-driven feed manipulation.

No spam: There are no bots selling products, and no spammy direct messages from random accounts.

Privacy-focused: Friendster claims it does not sell users’ data.

Friendster, one of the first social networking websites, launched in 2003 before the rise of MySpace and Facebook. It officially ceased operations in 2015. —JCB, GMA News