Here's what we know so far about Friendster's comeback
The internet is going crazy about Friendster's long-awaited digital comeback!
But before you ask for a "testi," keep in mind that the platform has evolved. With a few thoughtful tweaks, the new Friendster aims to make digital connections feel a lot more personal.
Here's what we know about the new Friendster site in 2026:
Who owns Friendster?
Reportedly, Mike Carson, a programmer and owner of domain company Park.io, owns Friendster. The company behind the website is Friendster Labs Inc. and has no relation nor access to data from the old site.
As seen in Friendster's privacy policy, Carson is also the website's data protection officer.
Friendster's new features
Friendster provides a real-life friend network as opposed to the common follower list, encouraging users to make in-person connections.
The app also promises no advertisements and no algorithmic based feeds on its website.
Its core features is a friend feed, in-person friend linking, 1:1 and group messages, and notifications for messages and interactions.
The screenshots show that we’re getting thumbs up and heart reactions for posts, plus a space for a short bio in the profile box.
How to access Friendster?
Friendster is currently listed as a Social Networking app available on the App Store and is only 6.5 mb in size. It is currently available for the iPhone and iPad and is not yet verified for MacOs for Macboook and iMac use.
Based on the website's support page, joining Friendster is by invite only and is only possible by linking Apple gadgets with a real person who already has the app. However, Carson said in his blog that he has already improved this, allowing anyone to sign up but only making connections by tapping phones.
In-person linking is possible via bluetooth connection and local network access enable for the app via iOS settings.
Friendster history
Friendster was formerly owned by Canada-based programmer Jonathan Abrams in 2002. The site has reportedly reached up to 115 million users at its peak.
In 2011, the site shifted to a social gaming site. In 2015, it has ceased operations before the company fully shut down in June 2018.
In November 2022, a website with the domain friendster.click went live and has since gained 6,000 signups. Although the Department of Information and Communications Technology warned against the domain as a possible phishing site.
In October 2023, Carson said in his blog that he found the domain name friendster.com resolving. Upon reaching out to the owner, he learned that the site was bought at a domain name action site for $8.
Carson revealed that he bought the friendster.com domain name for $20,000 in Bitcoin and in exchange of an ad income-website.
On May 13, 2025, Carson officially owns all trademarks to Friendster.
