From Dial-Up to DMs: The Coveted Top 8

Do you know what could start an argument back in the day? Removing someone from your MySpace Top 8. If you don’t know, MySpace Top 8 was a section on your MySpace page where you featured the profiles of 8 friends. This coveted section showcased your allegiances to your friends, both online and off the screen, as people would call you out if their profile was removed or repositioned. It was a revered spot for your family, your boo, or your besties.

Here’s what it looked like:

Not only did being featured in someone’s Top 8 matter, but the order in which you were ranked also mattered (IYKYK). Additionally, it was expected that the Top 8 placements were reciprocal, meaning that if you featured your friend, they would also feature you on their page.

It seems incredibly trivial, right? Like, who is really ranking their friends and publicly displaying that ranking? However, looking back, perhaps Tom Anderson (co-founder of MySpace) was onto something.

Flash forward to 2024

I was having dinner with a good friend, and we talked about how many things have changed during the course of our friendship. One thing we both mentioned was the switch-up of friends and partners throughout the decades. We laughed and cried as we reminisced about memories. Some were sweet moments, and others were lessons in disguise. Although those people are not in our ‘Top 8’ anymore, we appreciated the stint they had being featured on our profile of life.

Some people you go through life with, and others you grow through life with.

Some people you go through life with, and others you grow through life with. Rearranging your Top 8 is par for the course as you continue on the path God has called you to. I don’t know for sure, but maybe (in some twisted way) that’s what Tom was trying to teach all the Millennial MySpacers back in the day. It took me a long time to learn that lesson, but I finally got there.

I encourage you to look at your proverbial Top 8 and ask yourself—do I need to do some housekeeping? Be thankful for those friends who were there for part of the journey, and feel free to adjust accordingly.

ps: If you missed part one or part two of my little ‘From Dial-Up to DMs’ nowstalgia series, tap here and here to catch up.