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As Microsoft decides to shut down Skype in May 2025, nostalgic netizens react with memes: ‘End of an era’

Current Skype users can seamlessly transition to Microsoft Teams using their existing login details. All their messages, group chats, and contacts will be transferred automatically.

Netizens, especially millennials, reminisced about the golden days of Skype on X

After more than two decades, Microsoft is pulling the plug on Skype, the messaging and video call service that defined online communication in the 2000s, in May 2025. The company is pushing users towards Microsoft Teams, which has become its go-to platform for chats and video meetings.

For those still using Skype, Microsoft promised a seamless transition––users can log in to Teams with their existing credentials, and all their messages, contacts, and group chats will carry over automatically. No need to start fresh. And for anyone looking to move on entirely, Microsoft is also providing an option to export their data.

Starting in May 2025, Skype will no longer be available. Over the coming days you can sign in to Microsoft Teams Free with your Skype account to stay connected with all your chats and contacts. Thank you for being part of Skype pic.twitter.com/EZ2wJLOQ1a

— Skype (@Skype) February 28, 2025

How the Internet reacted

News of Skype shutting down has stirred up emotions on social media, especially on X, where users are reminiscing about its glory days.

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Communication platform Discord wrote, “Thank you for walking so we could run rip to the og gaming chat app.”

thank you for walking so we could run 😭rip to the og gaming chat app https://t.co/YQusowFtep

— Discord (@discord) February 28, 2025

Another user wrote, “Skype had a 17 year headstart and cracked under pressure in 2020. It’s fumble during the pandemic will be studied for centuries.”

Skype had a 17 year headstart and cracked under pressure in 2020.

It’s fumble during the pandemic will be studied for centuries https://t.co/sRVPv2V2YR pic.twitter.com/xSvPsfXc5T

— Nine (@ninewontmiss) February 28, 2025

A third X user wrote, “Skype was a saviour for international students, making it possible to call home *for free*. It is difficult to understand what that meant in an era when a 15 minute calling card cost $20-25. One of the original internet game changers!”

Skype was a saviour for international students, making it possible to call home *for free*.

It is difficult to understand what that meant in an era when a 15 minute calling card cost $20-25.

One of the original internet game changers! 🫡 https://t.co/Q7D3zNjd0O

— Rajeev Mantri (@RMantri) February 28, 2025

A fourth individual wrote, “LeBron outlasted Skype.”

LEBRON OUTLASTED SKYPE https://t.co/TcjyDGvEZ9 pic.twitter.com/psNW4Og5po

— Mads (@MadsCapital) February 28, 2025

Some more reactions here:

“SKYPE” in 2025 …. https://t.co/7X58g1ofwp pic.twitter.com/qGcMB6Qzxg

— Naserati (@formulanas) February 28, 2025

rip skype

millennials with long distance pals / romantic interests remember this OG ringtone lol before the days of facetime and whatsapp video calls 😭 https://t.co/Z4sh6E1df8 pic.twitter.com/lI2lR5gAKl

— grace (@gracewas_here) February 28, 2025

RIP to the OG Zoom. We’ll never forget you or your little jingle. @Skype @MicrosoftTeams pic.twitter.com/xcbPdhdDQC

— Upwork (@Upwork) February 28, 2025

all good things come to an end

rip Skype :( pic.twitter.com/jGBTTNCv8V

— Product Hunt 😸 (@ProductHunt) February 28, 2025

Jeff Teper, Microsoft’s president of 365 collaborative apps and platforms, assured Skype users in an interview with The Verge that they won’t be forced into any changes. “They can migrate their conversation history and their contacts out and move on if they want, or they can migrate to Teams,” Teper said.

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Skype was once the go-to platform for online communication, reaching an impressive 660 million users at its peak in 2010. But as time passed, new players like Zoom, Google Meet, FaceTime, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger took over, gradually chipping away at its dominance. By 2015, its active user base had already shrunk to 300 million, and by March 2020, that number had dropped even further to just 100 million.

Microsoft, which bought Skype for $8.5 billion in 2011, now sees little reason to keep it going, especially with Microsoft Teams offering a more seamless experience for both work and personal use.