Myspace, once a dominant social media platform in the mid-2000s, is set for a revival as its current owners, brothers Tim and Chris Vanderhook, prepare to relaunch the site. The announcement was made in a 2026 documentary titled Myspace, which premiered at the Hot Docs festival in Toronto.
The Vanderhooks, who own Myspace through their company Viant Technology, emphasized restoring the platform’s original charm by bringing back features that users fondly remember. These include fully customizable profiles, the iconic Top 8 friends list, profile songs, and a chronological feed free from algorithmic interference.
Original Myspace co-founder Chris DeWolfe, featured in the documentary, highlighted the impact of social media algorithms on user experience, arguing that current platforms have shifted towards addictive scrolling rather than genuine connections.
Background and Vision
- Myspace launched in 2003 and quickly became one of the largest social networks worldwide.
- Between 2005 and 2008, it was the most visited social media site globally, attracting about 115 million monthly visitors.
- Facebook overtook Myspace in global traffic by 2008 and in unique US visitors by 2009, ending Myspace's dominance.
- The Vanderhook brothers acknowledged previous failed attempts to modernize Myspace, attributing challenges to changes in management and stakeholder fatigue.
- No official relaunch date has been announced yet, but the owners remain committed to reviving the platform.
Tom Anderson, Myspace’s co-founder known for being every user's first friend, sold the company in 2005 and is not involved in this latest initiative.
