Before the algorithm made everything beige, social media was feral. It was nudges, pokes, and profile songs. Here are 7 dead features we’d dig up from the grave.
7 Dead Social Media Features We Secretly Miss
Social media used to be a lot messier.
A little more feral.
A little less "brand safe".
Now it’s algorithms, ads, and “community guidelines” that sound like they were written by a beige cardigan.
But once upon a time?
It was the wild west.
We had chaos, weird flexes, and features that made absolutely no sense but felt like the internet should feel — unhinged, fun, and a bit petty.
Here are seven dead social features I’d dig up from the digital graveyard.
1. Vine
Six seconds. That’s all you got.
No fancy transitions. No endless cuts.
If you couldn’t be funny, clever, or weird in six seconds, you didn’t deserve the clout.
Bring back the raw energy of screaming goats, weird dance loops, and your mate Tim who only posted one video but it somehow got 4M views.
2. MSN Messenger Nudges
The original “pay attention to me.”
Nothing quite matched the thrill of spamming a nudge until your crush’s whole screen shook like an earthquake.
No read receipts. No ghosting. Just relentless digital tapping until you got an answer.
3. Facebook Poke Wars
Poking was peak passive aggression.
Too scared to send a message? Poke.
Want to let someone know you’re thinking about them without saying a word? Poke.
Want to confuse your aunty at Christmas? Poke.
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Before the algorithm locked us in our own little bubbles, you could watch exactly what your mates were liking and following in real time.
Creepy? Yep.
Addictive? Also yep.
Brought more drama to friendship groups than a bottle of Fireball.
5. MySpace Profile Songs
If your top song wasn’t a reflection of your entire personality, were you even online?
One click and your page blasted whatever emotional state you were in.
Sad break-up? James Blunt.
Feeling dangerous? Linkin Park.
6. Facebook FarmVille Invites
Annoying as hell… but also the first time the internet peer-pressured us into fake agriculture.
If your crops died, so did your social standing.
7. BBM Pins
Before group chats got out of control, BBM was the elite texting club.
Dropping your pin was the ultimate “you’re in.”
BBM was exclusivity wrapped in blue bubbles and bad ringtones.
We’ve swapped all this for AI captions and whatever the hell Threads is doing.
Sure, we’ve “progressed.”
But deep down, the internet was more fun when it was less polished and more chaotic.
