Social network Bebo is returning next month – and people can’t wait

Bebo, one of the original social networks, has announced it is returning next month.

A message on the company’s official website reads: “Bebo is coming back in February 2021 as a brand new social network. We are currently in private beta.”

The website first began operating in 2005 however went bankrupt in 2013.

It relaunched several times after that with a number of short-lived offerings, including instant messaging and video streaming, until its acquisition by Amazon in July 2019 when it was shut down.

It’s not yet known whether the website’s iconic (and sometimes harrowing features), including ranking your friends, for example, will return.

A few lucky people have been granted access to a sneak peek. They can enter private passwords for the beta now.

The website hasn’t yet revealed specific launch date, other than saying it’s coming in February.

The news has caused a stir on the internet, with many fans of the website excited to get back on there.

One Twitter user exclaimed: “Bebo is coming back what hahahahahahahahaha.”

While another added: “Can’t wait to pick my top 16, other half and share three luvs a day oxox #bebo.”

A third chimed in: “With Bebo coming back i’m ready for everyone adding ‘;;; <3 xx’ to the end of everything they type.”

While a fourth wrote: “I went from myspace to facebook and completely skipped bebo NOW IS MY CHANCE.”

Those who are hoping to see all of their old photos will be left disappointed though.

A message on the website reads: “PLEASE NOTE: All old data and photos were lost many years ago and are not recoverable. Sorry.”

Bebo was acquired by Amazon through Twitch Interactive back in 2019 for a huge $25 million (£18million), after a bidding war with Discord.

At the height of its original popularity, Bebo had more than 10.7 million unique users in the UK alone.