How I Acquired Friendster.com for $30,000 and My Plans for the Domain

Summary

The article tells the story of how the author purchased the Friendster.com domain name for $30,000 in 2023 after noticing it had been reactivated with popup ads. Friendster, the first social network that launched in 2002 and shut down in 2018, had its domain sitting dormant for 8 years. The author, who founded park.io, recognized the domain owner as a customer and negotiated the purchase. The article details the history of Friendster, the acquisition process, and the author's plans for the domain — which include preserving its legacy while potentially building something new on the iconic web property.