The social media site, Bebo, is relaunching after being gone for 16 years.
Social-media network Bebo sets to return in February 2021. This update is marking its relaunch after being gone for 16 years. The news is according to an update that the website posted Thursday night. “Bebo is coming back in February 2021 as a brand new social network,” the post says.
The new site is currently available in private. So, only people who have been provided with the password can access it. In addition to the relaunch, the update takes the time to clarify what to expect. “PLEASE NOTE: All old data and photos were lost many years ago and are not recoverable,” a message on the new version reads. “Sorry.”
In other words, previously uploaded data and photos are currently lost and have been since “many years ago.”
Twitter users are currently sharing their excitement about the announcement. Many are also reminiscing over the site. One Twitter use shares what he plans on making his profile picture.
– If I Get Back On Bebo I’m Making This My Profile Picture. pic.twitter.com/jtKCDKn6fv
— – PATRONE 👼🏾 (@Moddioooo) January 29, 2021
The rise and fall of Bebo
Bebe was first launched by husband-and-wife team Michael and Xochi Birch in January 2005 in San Francisco. In addition to the social media site, the couple had also previously developed websites. This includes the e-card site BirthdayAlarm.com and the social-networking site, Ringo.
“When we planned the site, all the cool, short names were taken,” Michael Birch told The Guardian. “But after we bought [the name Bebo] we invented an acronym for it: blog early, blog often.”
Bebo and its popularity initially gained mass popularity in Ireland and the UK. Moreover, those countries were where it was the most visited social network in 2007. After reaching 80 million unique users in 2008, the founders sold the site to AOL for $850 million. AOL’s CEO called Bebo a “true pioneer of the social web.”
However, during this time Facebook was taking off as well. While hinting at shutting down the site, AOL sold off Bebo. Furthermore, the company sold to investment firm Criterion Capital Partners for just $10 million. Afterward, Bebo filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2013.
In a strange twist of events, Bebo’s founders decided to buy back the site for $1 million; Making the promise to “reinvent” it.
After taking Bebo offline for a hefty chunk of support, the Birches brought it back online in late 2014 with the slogan “Probably Not for Boring People,” alongside an accompanying instant messaging app called “Bebo Blab.” Two years later, Blab shut down.
The Bebo site turned to streaming software and then to esports tournaments. In 2019, it was acquired by Amazon subsidiary Twitch, who bought it for Bebo for $25 million after beating Discord in a bid. The Bebo site itself was then taken offline.
Are you guys excited for Bebo? Let us know in the comments below!
