friendster philippines

Friendster's popularity surged in the Philippines around 2004, becoming the country's first major social network. By 2005, it had over 5 million active users, with figures pegging Filipino users at 7.2 million. Its popularity was driven by being the 'first mover' in social networking locally, offering features like customizable profiles with GIF wallpapers and the iconic 'testimonials' (or 'testi'). The platform was so popular that Friendster set up a local office and hosted events like Pinoy Friendster Day in 2009, which aimed to set a world record for the largest social networking community gathering.

Friendster began a deep decline around 2009 when Facebook and Twitter significantly increased their user base in the Philippines. Users were drawn to Facebook's cleaner interface and games like Farmville. In an attempt to compete, Friendster relaunched with a new, cleaner design in December 2009 and shifted towards becoming a social gaming platform in 2011. However, these efforts failed to win back users. The company was acquired by Malaysian firm MOL Global in late 2009. By 2015, Friendster suspended all services due to a lack of engagement in the community.

Friendster Philippines was known for several unique features and events. The 'Testimonials' feature was a cultural phenomenon, with users creating stylized text using codes for colors and fonts. The platform also integrated local services, launching a GCash-powered money transfer feature in 2009 for sending remittances to friends. It even played a role in local politics, hosting one of the first online social political campaigns for senatorial candidate Chiz Escudero in 2007. The 'Pinoy Friendster Day' event at SM Mall of Asia in August 2009 was an attempt to set a world record for the largest gathering of a social networking community.