I bought Friendster for $30k – Here's what I'm doing with it

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Tap-to-Connect and “Fading Connections”

  • Many like the “tap phones in person to become friends” constraint; they see it as:
    • A way to enforce real-world connections and combat bots, spam, and parasitic growth-hacking.
    • A differentiator from “enshittified” big platforms chasing engagement.
  • Others criticize it as:
    • Impractical for people whose close friends/family live far away, have limited mobility, or use non‑smartphones.
    • Potentially hurtful for edge cases (e.g., deceased friends, infrequent but meaningful relationships).
  • Several suggest alternatives or supplements:
    • Short‑lived QR codes, phone/email verification, or a hierarchy of intimacy levels.
    • Using proximity only for initial verification, not ongoing “maintenance” of friendships.

Platform Choice: iOS-Only, No Web

  • Strong pushback on being iOS‑only:
    • Excludes roughly half (or more) of potential users globally.
    • Feels wrong to require a specific brand of phone to join a “friend” network.
  • Lack of a web app is seen as odd for a social product and frustrating for desktop/laptop users.
  • Some defend the choice:
    • Solo developer constraints; focus on a small, pleasant network over growth.
    • iOS-only can reduce abuse and attack surface.

Native App vs PWA / Technical Mechanics

  • Debate over whether proximity features require native apps:
    • Some argue PWAs can use geolocation, BLE, NFC; others dislike giving browsers such hardware access.
    • NFC/Web NFC support is limited and inconsistent; Apple-specific APIs for card emulation are restrictive.
  • Many users prefer native apps over PWAs in practice, especially for social media, though a subset strongly prefers browser-based use for privacy and simplicity.

Business Model, Trust, and Domain Squatting

  • Concern that “no ads / pay for itself later” is a red flag:
    • Fear it will eventually pivot to ads, data harvesting, or get acquired and degraded.
    • Calls for nonprofit governance or open-source code to build long-term trust.
  • Mixed views on the founder’s domain-trading background:
    • Some see domain parking/squatting as parasitic; others as just operating within the current system.

App Store Policy and Control

  • Apple initially rejected the “invite-only / small niche” design under guideline 4.2.
  • This sparks broader criticism:
    • Apple’s power to block niche or private apps.
    • Lack of straightforward ways to ship small, limited-distribution apps.
    • Comparisons with alternative distribution models, enterprise programs, and EU regulations.

Do We Even Need New Social Networks?

  • Some argue modern “social” is already handled by private group chats (WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Matrix).
  • Others welcome an attempt at a “Facebook before it got bad” focused on real-life friends, symmetric relationships, and minimal algorithmic meddling.