Myspace: Definitely the biggest and most popular phenomenon on the list, Myspace, was not just a website, it was your identity. Like Facebook today, when Myspace was at the height of its popularity it was hard to imagine life without it. Why would you ever NOT want a Myspace?? This website had the ability to make you cool. Good at HTML or taking the ever so popular “mirror pics?” Insta-popularity. I have to accredit Myspace for my creativity, I know I wasn’t the only person who stayed in on a Friday night every so often in middle school to re-do my page. &♥;
What was the downside to Myspace? Drama. For example, how many issues did you undergo involving “Top 8” placement? Looking back, I can understand why someone would be mad if one day they were publically announced as your best friend, and the next day they move down a few slots. After all, you are making a conscious decision and effort to change their position. Your friend moves her new boyfriend to her number one slot (the former equivalent to being “FB offish”) and it required a “talking to.” Dramarama.
Eventually Myspace was left only to the “teen moms” and “scene queens” of high school and the rest of us moved on to Facebook. One thing Facebook still hasn’t topped Myspace on is the profile song, why wouldn’t they have done that by now?
PC4PC? Anyone?
Bumper Sticker: Anyone else remember the Facebook App Bumper Sticker back in 2008/2009? It was the Tumblr of the time. I used to search through pages and pages of image clips to find ones that related to all my best friends. This way they could see that I was thinking about them, and acknowledging the fact that they were in fact my best friends, with have inside jokes etc.
FML: Back in 2009, the popular term “FML” developed thanks to the website FMyLife. People would go on the website and post embarrassing and unfortunate stories that happened to them that day. Fans of the site would go on and rate how entertaining the post was. If anything, the site just made us feel better about our own lives, but eventually the posts got repetitive, and most people lost interest.
Postsecret: Back in the late Myspace days, a site called PostSecret gained rapid popularity. How the site worked was that people would send the manager of the site, Frank, post cards with their deepest darkest secrets on them. Once a week, he would post the secrets on the website for everyone to view, and at the end of every year, he would create a book with all the secrets in them. You could buy these books at bookstores, online, etc. When PostSecret was at the height of it’s popularity people I knew used to put the secret of the week that related to them most on their Myspace page. Interesting way of broadcasting your insecurities. (P.S. the one below totally relates to my life)
Texts from Last Night: Also in 2009, TextsFromLastNight.com became an Internet phenomenon (to say the least). Fans of the site could submit funny text messages they sent or received and wanted to broadcast. If your friends were anything like mine, they would post “relatable” or funny TFLN quotes on your Facebook wall, with a brief explanation as to why they relate to you, what a lovely way to expose your friendship, and your embarrassing stories.
Honestybox: This Facebook app was more addictive then a heavy drug. You wanted to stop, to delete it, but you simply couldn’t. To better describe “Honestybox,” it is basically exactly what it sounds like, a textbox that allowed you to send someone your absolute “honest” opinion of them. Nobody could see the messages that were sent except the receiver, but you know it created a big stir. This app was used as a flirting technique, as a way to virtually stab your peers in the heart, you name it-you can say it. Eventually HB lost its appeal, but “Formspring” quickly gained it.
Formspring: What was potentially the cause of NUMBEROUS teen suicides, Formspring.com skyrocketed issues of depression, anxiety, and bullying amongst American teenagers. Formspring, similar to Honesty Box, gave people the opportunity to tell someone their honest opinion of them anonymously. The initial purpose of the website was to give users a platform to anonymously ask questions they didn’t feel comfortable asking the person themselves. However, in actuality it turned into a tool used strictly for bullying. People would post RUTHLESS “questions” on others’ Formprings. Parents often had to get involved, and school guidance counselors were at the height of their career. Personally, I have no fond memories of this era.
Honorable Mentions:
Likealittle.com
Livejournal.com
What fads will we reminisce on next? Memes? Barstool? Who knows, could even be Facebook.