Friends Reunited Relaunches Site

Early amicable networking colonize Friends Reunited has been relaunched.

The UK-based network, that initial began in 2000, right away invites users to pointer up for its new "memories"-based service.

The original site was paid for by ITV for 175m in 2005, usually to be sole for 25.6m 4 years after that to online edition organisation Brightsolid.

Social media experts told the BBC the site's future prospects rest on it being able to offer "something new" to lure users back to the site.

At its peak, Friends Reunited had over 15 million members who used the site to reconnect with aged college friends.

It can quietly interest its place as being the initial amicable network to take off in the UK.

However, as more technologically-advanced offerings emerged, such as MySpace and then Facebook, the site struggled to grip on to its user base.

The site's owner, Brightsolid, believes a horde of veteran repository calm joined with users' own element will help make Friends Reunited the selection of amicable network for people interested to extract in online nostalgia.

"We wouldn't do this if you considered it was just other also-ran," Brightsolid arch senior manager Chris outpost der Kuyl told the BBC.

"It's about every detonate from your past - every type of great mental recall you have."

The site has teamed up with the Press Association and the British Library to enable users to affix aged element - inclusive journal clippings - to their own "memory box".

These boxes may be common on assorted other networks online - inclusive Facebook, where users can increase a Friends Reunited app to their profile.

The service is currently giveaway to use - nonetheless Mr Kuyl mentioned revenue-generating options were being considered serve down the line, inclusive mouth-watering brands to offer their own sentimental material, such as aged cars, to be updated to users' memories.

Friends Reunited's team think they have identified a gap, highlighted by the new windstorm success of picture pity site Pinterest , in that people similar to to curate element that means something to them.

However, amicable media business expert Lee Bryant told the BBC he had small skepticism as to either the site could lapse to pile popularity.

"It's 'no', basically. It's hard to know what else to say. Everyone has so ample invested in Facebook. Friends Reunited doesn't appear to be gift anything new," he said.

"[Scrapbooking online] is a great concept, and its time has advance - but Tumblr, Pinterest - they're all carrying out this already.

"Facebook will collect connected business models and just take in them when the time is right."

Yet Drew Benvie, who worked as segment of the original Friends Reunited team in 2008, mentioned he considered there was still room is to site to capture instead wavering amicable networkers.

"I'm really vehement to see it advance back," Mr Benvie, who is right away UK handling director of open family definite Hotwire, told the BBC.

"I can see a lot of chance here is to somewhat comparison amicable media users of currently - those who aren't digital natives.

"I think what Friends Reunited could do is expand a bit of a hole is to median internet user who isn't being served by Facebook."