General
Hyves Returns, Capitalizing on User Distrust of Major Social Platforms
Mediahuis is reviving the Dutch social network Hyves in 2026, aiming to attract nostalgic users concerned about data privacy and addictive algorithms on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok. The new iteration ensures all user data remains on European servers through a partnership with Apadmi, avoiding sharing with third parties or foreign governments. Mediahuis emphasizes that Hyves will focus on genuine social interaction rather than endless scrolling, initially inviting 10,000 users while others join a waiting list. Although the platform aims for 1.5 million users by year-end and has secured advertising partners, it faces the challenge of generating revenue without relying on the data-tracking models used by American tech giants.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's