As Liberty Communications turns 25 years old, we’re taking a look at some of the most innovative and beloved tech innovations of the past 25 years. The choice was easy for me, it’s a space all my own, Myspace.
It’s been almost 25 years since the world was introduced to Myspace, the social networking platform that forever changed the way we communicate online. And while some may argue that Myspace was a failure, I’m here to be the contrarian, that it was actually one of the top tech innovations of the past quarter-century.
Why, you ask? Well, allow me to break it down.
First of all, Myspace will forever be the OG of the social media game, launching on August 1, 2003. Before Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and all the other social sites you know and love, Myspace was one of the first to allow you to connect with friends online (along with AOL Instant Messenger, RIP).
Myspace also allowed you to showcase your creativity with custom profile pages. Remember spending hours upon hours perfecting your profile background and layout? And don’t even get me started on the endless options for glitter graphics and auto-playing music. It was a virtual expression of our personalities, and we loved it.
But that’s not all. Myspace also taught us the importance of privacy settings, way before Facebook came along. Who can forget the horror of realizing that your boss, parents, or ex could see your profile and all its embarrassing details? Myspace unwittingly showed us that the internet is not a safe place, and that we need to be careful about what we share.
And lest we forget the beauty of Myspace’s “Top 8” friends list. It was like a popularity contest in digital form, and everyone wanted to make the top spot. The drama and intrigue surrounding the list was unmatched, and it’s something that modern social media just doesn’t have a flair for.
Finally, Myspace was the birthplace of many online relationships and friendships. Sure, it may have led to some awkward encounters in real life, but it also allowed people from all over the world to connect and bond over shared interests and experiences. It was an early representation of the power of the internet to bring people together.
So while Myspace may not be the most successful or popular social media platform, it will always hold a special place in my heart and in the annals of tech history. Let’s all take a moment to raise a glass to the platform that gave us custom profile pages, privacy lessons, top 8 drama, and online relationships.
But beyond all that, let’s give a tip of the hat to Myspace for creating the very first social media influencer and star; Tom.
Long live Tom!
