MySpace Tom Page
Year First Appeared
2003
Creator
Tom Anderson
Tom Anderson’s MySpace profile page belongs to the platform’s co‑founder and the original default “first friend” for new users, made famous by his iconic profile photo.
Importance in Internet Culture
MySpace pioneered large‑scale DIY profile customization and music discovery, briefly becoming the most‑visited U.S. site and securing a $900 million advertising deal with Google. By making Tom the default friend, the site set early norms for onboarding and personal connection on social platforms.
Interesting Fact
As a 14‑year‑old hacker known as “Lord Flathead, ” Anderson breached a Chase Manhattan Bank system in 1985, prompting one of California’s biggest FBI raids, though he was not prosecuted. He later noted that the old, blurry profile picture helps keep him unrecognizable in public.