Once touted as “the next Facebook,” social networking app Path will be shutting down on October 18.
Like many others, it was going to be “the next Facebook.” The alternative. The better platform. Like many, it didn’t succeed. Path will be removed from Apple’s App Store and Google Play on October 1, and the platform will cease to exist on October 18. Customer service channels will remain active until November 15, to help users transition.
Founded in 2010 by Dave Morin, a former Facebook executive, and Shawn Fanning, the creator of Napster, Path had no issue raising over $70 million in funding. The app promised to be different from Facebook, by focusing on smaller groups. Initially, Path limited interactions to just 50 contacts.
However, the app failed to find an engaged audience. It later increased limits to 150, and then 500 contacts, hoping to regain momentum.
But this may have been what ultimately caused the platform to fail. You see, 500 contacts are more than what the average Facebook user has. Path had lost its uniqueness. People didn’t see the point of having “one more social networking app” that didn’t offer anything different.
In a world where Facebook has become hegemonic, few are the platforms that can survive. After StumbleUpon and social influencer platform Klout, it is now Path’s turn to disappear.
I for one will miss Path, even if I haven’t been an active user for years. At its heyday, Path allowed me to connect with some people in ways no other app allowed at the time. You hear that, Facebook?
If you are were still an active user on the app, you’ll have until October 18 to visit this link and log in with your Path credentials to retrieve a copy of your data.
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