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Library/App & software/Friendster
Grade B24 sourcesHIS-01640

Friendster

App & software · 2003 · Notable

43Editable slideCertificate

Friendster reported more than 3 million registrations in its launch year.

Clip · The Onion on YouTube
The later gaming-era Friendster logo, dated June 2011; CC BY-SA 3.0. This is not the public-beta interface.
Basavarajtalwar / Wikimedia Commons

Spread Score

How it works
ReachNo data yetContagionNo data yetBreadth60Velocity21LongevityNo data yet43

Numbers

Milestone date
Nov 17 ’03
Mar 2003 to Nov 17 ’03
Platforms
4
Started on Open web
Origin
Seeded
Technology

Mechanics

  • Identity badgePrimary
  • Maker origin
  • Press loop
  • Controversy
  • Dupe economy

How it spread

Trace the origin

Friendster's public beta spread through invitations and playful profiles. It reported over 3 million registrations by November and rejected Google's bid. Asian growth continued before a sale and a gaming pivot.

Documented milestone; not a measured attention peak. Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.

Monthly visitors (Nielsen/NetRatings)2003-06-01: 532,0002003-07-01: 675,0002003-08-01: 961,0002003-10-01: 927,000Nov ’02May ’03AugDecApr ’05Dec ’06Nov ’07Sep ’08Sep ’09Jan ’10NovMilestoneOpen webPressRetailYouTube
Open webPressRetailYouTube

13 more events on this chart

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Monthly visitors (Nielsen/NetRatings): 4 dated figures from Metro Silicon Valley, each checked against the source. Measured at the time, not estimated.

Timeline (16)

  1. March 2003

    Jonathan Abrams / Friendster seed · Mar 2003

    Friendster opened its public beta, letting people meet through their friends' connections.[1][2]

    Open the first post ↗

  2. June 2003

    TIME press · Jun 2 ’03

    TIME described Friendster's dating service and reported 268,000 members.[3]

  3. Jonathan Abrams commercial · Jun 27 ’03

    Abrams told the Chronicle that Friendster had over 800,000 users and was growing 20% weekly.[2]

  1. owner response · Jul 17 ’03

  2. backlash · Aug 14 ’03

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Why it worked

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Origin
Seeded
Sector
Technology
Region
US
Reported figure
—
Evidence
Grade B

Spread the same way

App & software · Open web · 200362

MySpace

Myspace LLC; founded within eUniverse by Chris DeWolfe and Tom Anderson

MySpace's US audience reached an estimated 75.9 million monthly visitors.

117.6M users

1 / 8

  • MySpace
  • Napster
  • Locket Widget
  • Instafest
  • Snapchat launch
  • Scientific 7-Minute Workout
  • Parasite
  • Beef (series)

New cases, every week

How the next thing spread, the week it does.