What would u like in a social media app?

I’m working on a project/concept for a new social media app, and I want to build something people actually want to use instead of just cloning what's already out there.

To help me out, what are your thoughts on these areas?

The Algorithm vs. Chronological Feeds: Do you prefer seeing what's popular/recommended, or do you just want to see what your friends post in the exact order they posted it?

Features You Hate: What is the most annoying thing about current platforms (Instagram, TikTok, X/Twitter, Snapchat) that you wish would disappear?

Features You Love: What is one feature from any app that you absolutely cannot live without?

Privacy & Ads: How do you feel about data privacy, ads, or potential subscription models if it meant zero ads?

The "Vibe": Are you looking for something casual just for close friends, a place to meet new people with shared interests, or something purely entertainment-focused?

Comments

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bySonuKumar•6 days ago•1

Personally, I'd love a chronological feed with the option to switch to recommendations. I hate engagement bait, rage bait, and algorithms that prioritize controversy over quality.

One feature worth keeping is strong search and community discovery like Reddit. For privacy, I don't mind relevant ads if they're transparent, and I think many people would pay for an ad-free experience if the app genuinely respected user data.

Most importantly, consider building around shared interests rather than follower counts. The next successful social platform will probably be one that helps people have better conversations, not just consume more content.

FarzadMGN•6 days ago•1

From a growth/distribution perspective, the hardest problem isn't any of these features — it's the cold start. Users come for content, content creators come for users. The platforms that actually broke through didn't win on features; they won by being the undisputed best place for one specific underserved use case before expanding. Discord = gamers. TikTok = short-form entertainment for GenZ. Nextdoor = hyper-local. Your "vibe" question is actually the most important one, and it has a very specific answer at launch: pick one community and make the app indispensable for them before you generalize.

On algorithm vs. chronological: the winning move is giving users control, but the real mechanic is making discovery feel like serendipity rather than a feed. Spotify Discover Weekly works because it feels like a friend found something for you. That's the emotional model worth designing toward — whether you use algo or chrono to get there.

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