18 Forgotten Social Media Sites That Came Before Facebook and TikTok
Long before Facebook and TikTok ruled the internet, these social media platforms paved the way—only to fade into digital obscurity.
- Chris Graciano
- 4 min read
Social media wasn’t always about endless scrolling and viral trends. Before the giants took over, early platforms experimented with everything from virtual identities to niche communities. Some were wildly popular in their time, but as technology evolved, these once-thriving networks slowly disappeared into internet history.
1. Friendster (2002)
Chris Messina on Flickr
Friendster was one of the first major social networking sites. It allowed users to connect, share photos, and write testimonials for friends. It was hugely popular in the early 2000s but struggled with technical issues as its user base grew.
2. MySpace (2003)
Spencer E Holtaway on Flickr
MySpace was the king of social networking before Facebook, and it is known for its customizable profiles, Top 8 friends list, and music integration. It was the go-to platform for teenagers, musicians, and creatives looking to express themselves.
3. Hi5 (2003)
Chris Messina on Flickr
Hi5 was a mix of social networking and online gaming, popular in Latin America and Southeast Asia. It featured friend connections, profiles, and photo sharing, similar to MySpace.
4. Xanga (1999)
Chris Messina on Flickr
Xanga was a blogging-based social network where users shared diary-style posts and connected through comments. It gained traction in the early 2000s, especially among teens looking for an online journal.
5. Orkut (2004)
MisterSanderson on Wikimedia Commons
Google’s first major attempt at social networking, Orkut was wildly popular in Brazil and India. It allowed users to create communities, rate friends, and share updates.
6. Bebo (2005)
Chris Messina on Flickr
Bebo was a quirky social network that let users rank their best friends and share unique “whiteboard” messages. It briefly gained popularity in the UK and Ireland but couldn’t keep up with Facebook’s rapid growth.
7. LiveJournal (1999)
LiveJournal on Wikimedia Commons
LiveJournal was a hybrid of blogging and social networking. Users wrote long-form posts and engaged in deep discussions. It was particularly popular with fan communities and niche interests.
8. Bolt (1996)
We Are Social on Flickr
Bolt was one of the earliest social media sites designed for teens to chat, blog, and share content. It had forums, messaging, and even early forms of online video.
9. Classmates.com (1995)
classmates.com on Wikimedia Commons
Classmates.com aimed to reconnect old friends and former classmates, making it one of the first social networking sites. It operated on a freemium model, charging users for premium features.
10. iMeem (2003)
Kevin Lim on Flickr
iMeem was a social music-sharing platform where users created playlists and streamed tracks for free. It gained a devoted audience before being acquired by MySpace in 2009.
11. Multiply (2003)
Austin Distel on Unsplash
Multiply blended social networking with blogging and photo-sharing, appealing to families and small businesses. It was especially popular in Southeast Asia, later pivoting into e-commerce.
12. Vox (2006)
Coppertino Inc. on Wikimedia Commons
Vox was another blogging-focused network launched by Six Apart, the creators of Movable Type. It was designed for casual bloggers who wanted an easy way to share posts with friends and family.
13. Google Buzz (2010)
Google on Wikimedia Commons
Google Buzz was Google’s attempt to integrate social networking into Gmail. It allowed users to post updates and share content, but privacy concerns and lackluster adoption led to its quick downfall.
14. Ping (2010)
Bruno Pedro on Flickr
Apple’s Ping was a music-focused social network built into iTunes, aimed at connecting fans and artists. It struggled with limited features and a lack of engagement from users.
15. Path (2010)
Timothy Hales Bennett on Unsplash
Path was a beautifully designed private social network where users could only connect with 150 close friends. It focused on intimate sharing rather than mass networking.
16. Diaspora (2010)
JohnHWiki on Wikimedia Commons
Diaspora was a decentralized social network aiming to give users full control over their data. Launched as an open-source alternative to Facebook, it gained media attention but never achieved mainstream success.
17. Ello (2014)
Ade Oshineye on Flickr
Ello marketed itself as the “anti-Facebook” with an ad-free, minimalist approach to social networking. It attracted initial buzz from privacy-conscious users but struggled to keep them engaged.
18. Vine (2013)
Esther Vargas on Flickr
Vine revolutionized short-form video content, making stars out of its most creative users. Its six-second looping videos were an early version of today’s TikTok trends.