Help

FAQ

Short answers for FLARE - profiles, themes, privacy, and retro toys.

• What is FLARE?

  A social network inspired by the customizable web of the 2000s. Your profile page is the product - themes, music, guestbook, Sparks, Top Friends. No algorithmic For You feed.

• How do I customize my page?

  Open your profile → Edit page → Customize Theme Live. Use Look (colors, backgrounds, borders), FX (particles + cursors), and the raw CSS tab with one-click snippets. Full walkthrough: Theme Tutorials.

• Is custom CSS safe?

  CSS is sandboxed to your profile root. @import, javascript:, and expression hacks are blocked. Styles cannot restyle the global nav or other people's pages. Still: don't paste mystery CSS from strangers.

• What selectors can I use?

  Stable hooks: .flare-panel, .flare-panel-header, .flare-guestbook, .flare-top8, .flare-webring, .flare-hero-photo, .flare-status. Cheat sheet lives in the CSS tab and on Theme Tutorials.

• Where do I find more themes?

  Browse the Theme Store. Preview before applying. You can also publish your own from the Theme Builder → Store tab.

• What are Sparks?

  Retro reaction objects (Crush, Legend, Party, Secret admirer…). They show as counts and as a recent showcase on the profile - not anonymous counters only.

• What is Buzz / Away in Messages?

  Instant Messages is classic IM chrome. Buzz shakes the window and beeps. Set an Away messagewhile editing your profile (Permissions) - friends see it when you're offline.

• What is Authentic 2008 mode?

  In the top bar, switch experience mode to Authentic 2008 for ~15fps motion, stronger CRT, and a tiny dial-up theater. Clean mode turns FX off for accessibility.

• Who can comment / message / add me?

  Edit page → Permissions. Choose Everyone / Friends only / Nobody for guestbook, DMs, and friend requests. Blocks are honored both ways.

• What is the Web Ring?

  On every profile: « prev · next » plus Random. Discovery without an algorithm - hop pages like the old rings.

• I broke my CSS. Help?

  Theme Builder → CSS → Clear CSS, or pick a preset again (presets reset their baked CSS). Tutorials have safe starter snippets.

• Is FLARE affiliated with Hi5 / MySpace?

  No. Independent product inspired by that era's customizable pages - not an official successor.