15 Social Media Platforms That Don’t Exist Anymore

Here's a nostalgic look at the once-popular social media platforms that have vanished over the years.

Chris Graciano
October 28, 2025
4 min read

15 Social Media Platforms That Don’t Exist Anymore — Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels

Social media has changed drastically over the past two decades. New apps are dominating while many old favorites disappeared. Some platforms were ahead of their time, while others couldn’t keep up. Here’s a rundown of 15 once-buzzing social media platforms that no longer exist.

1. 1. Friendster

Launched in 2002, Friendster was one of the earliest major social networks. It allowed users to connect with friends, share photos, and join communities. Despite early success, technical issues and the rise of Facebook rendered it irrelevant.

2. 2. MySpace

At its peak, MySpace was the most visited website in the U.S., letting users customize pages and share music playlists. It made internet celebrities out of musicians and teens alike. However, cluttered designs, spam, and Facebook’s cleaner interface led to its rapid decline.

3. 3. Orkut

Google’s first foray into social networking, Orkut, was huge in Brazil and India. Its community-driven design made it feel more personal than competitors. However, global adoption lagged, and after years of spam and inactivity, Google shut it down in 2014.

4. 4. Google+

Determined to challenge Facebook again, Google launched Google+ with features like “Circles” and tight integration with Gmail and YouTube. Despite its potential, users never embraced it fully. A massive data breach sealed its fate in 2019, ending Google’s social media ambitions.

5. 5. Vine

Vine’s six-second looping videos changed internet humor forever. It birthed an entire generation of content creators and memes. Yet, when Twitter couldn’t figure out how to monetize it, Vine vanished in 2017 — just before TikTok took over the short-video world.

6. 6. Yik Yak

An anonymous app popular on college campuses, Yik Yak, would let users post local updates and secrets. For a brief period, it was digital gossip at its finest. However, rampant cyberbullying and waning interest led to its shutdown in 2017.

7. 7. Meerkat

Before live streaming was everywhere, Meerkat made headlines at SXSW 2015 for its real-time video feature. It was innovative but short-lived. Once Twitter and Facebook launched their own live tools, Meerkat couldn’t compete and disappeared quietly.

8. 8. DailyBooth

This early photo-sharing site encouraged users to post a daily selfie, creating a timeline of their lives. It fostered a loyal community, especially among early YouTubers. However, when Instagram arrived, DailyBooth’s simplicity couldn’t keep up with the visual revolution.

9. 9. iTunes Ping

Apple’s brief attempt at a social music network launched in 2010. Users could follow artists and share playlists, but engagement was minimal. It was shut down just two years later, replaced by more integrated Apple Music features.

10. 10. Path

Designed to be intimate rather than public, Path limited each user’s network to 150 friends. It emphasized family moments, private updates, and real connections. Despite its charm, the rise of Facebook and Instagram made it obsolete.

11. 11. FriendFeed

FriendFeed was ahead of its time, merging updates from multiple sites into one social dashboard. It was so innovative that Facebook acquired it in 2009. Sadly, the service was shut down in 2015, its ideas living on within Facebook’s design.

12. 12. SixDegrees

Considered the original social network, SixDegrees launched way back in 1997. It allowed users to create profiles and connect with others through mutual friends. The concept was groundbreaking, but with limited internet adoption, it shut down in 2001.

13. 13. Bolt

Aimed at teens, Bolt offered chat rooms, blogs, and friend lists long before MySpace took over the internet. It was an early social hangout, full of personality. Unfortunately, competition and legal troubles forced it offline.

14. 14. Xanga

A mix between a blog and a social profile, Xanga was where people shared personal stories, music, and photos. It had a loyal following during the early 2000s blogging boom. However, as social media evolved, users migrated to Tumblr, WordPress, and Facebook.

15. 15. Bebo

Bebo was once a major social network in the UK and Ireland, offering quizzes, blogs, and photos. It had a warm, community-driven vibe that users loved. After several ownership changes and failed relaunches, it eventually disappeared for good.