Raw images, no filters: Why MySpace fans want it back as relaunch hinted
MySpace is reportedly considering a relaunch, sparking nostalgia among users who remember the platform for its authentic, non-algorithmic social experience. Former users and creators hope a new version would prioritize personal connections over the performance-based dynamics of modern social media.
Why it matters
The potential return of an early social media giant highlights a growing cultural fatigue with current algorithmic platforms and a desire for more personalized digital spaces.
Image source, Monticah Hawkins/Melissa Kristin Image caption, Monticah Hawkins, left, and Melissa Kristin in their MySpace days
For Monticah Hawkins, a 31-year-old real-estate agent in Atlanta, MySpace wasn't just a website – it was a ritual.
"You could be authentic on MySpace," she says. "Upload raw images, no filters. You could have snot coming out your nose and nobody would judge."
MySpace, once the world's biggest social network, is flirting with a comeback. Its owners, brothers Tim and Chris Vanderhook, say they plan to relaunch the platform, though no date or product details have been announced.
A spokesperson for Viant, which owns MySpace, says the company does not have any updates to share "at this time."
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