Antisocial Media
A radical experiment in digital connection: What if we built a social platform that actually makes you more social in real life, not less? Quality conversations, meaningful connections, and intentional community building.
Social media promised to connect us but delivered addiction, anxiety, and artificial relationships. We're more "connected" than ever, yet loneliness, depression, and social isolation are at record highs.
Current Social Media Problems:
- • Designed for addiction, not connection
- • Algorithmic feeds promote outrage and division
- • Superficial interactions replace deep relationships
- • FOMO and comparison culture damage mental health
- • Echo chambers polarize society
- • Attention spans destroyed by infinite scroll
Real-World Impact:
- • 25% increase in teen depression since 2007
- • Average person checks phone 144 times/day
- • 60% report feeling lonelier than before social media
- • Face-to-face socializing down 70% in 20 years
- • Political polarization at historic highs
- • Declining empathy and social skills
The "Antisocial" Approach
Instead of maximizing engagement time, we minimize it. Success is measured by how quickly users accomplish their social goals and return to real life.
- • Hard limits on daily usage time
- • No infinite scroll or addictive features
- • Focus on meaningful interactions
- • Encourages offline meetups and activities
Prioritize deep connections with people you actually know and care about, rather than collecting followers or broadcasting to strangers.
- • Limited network size (Dunbar's number: ~150)
- • Emphasis on local community connections
- • Tools for organizing real-world gatherings
- • Private, intimate sharing spaces
Every feature is designed to promote thoughtful interaction and genuine human connection, not dopamine hits or mindless scrolling.
- • Friction added to prevent impulsive posting
- • No likes, hearts, or vanity metrics
- • Chronological feeds, no algorithms
- • Mandatory reflection prompts
Help users develop better social skills, emotional intelligence, and real-world confidence through guided interactions and feedback.
- • Social skills development programs
- • Conflict resolution tools
- • Empathy-building exercises
- • Real-world challenge suggestions
Core Features
Built-in Limits
- • 30-minute daily usage limit (adjustable down, not up)
- • App automatically closes at time limit
- • Weekly usage reports and trends
- • Gentle nudges to take breaks
- • "Digital sabbath" mode for weekends
Wellness Features
- • Mood tracking before/after app use
- • Mindfulness reminders and prompts
- • Integration with fitness and outdoor activities
- • Sleep hygiene protection (no late-night access)
- • Mental health resource integration
Neighborhood Networks
- • Hyperlocal community groups (5km radius)
- • Local event discovery and organization
- • Skill sharing and mutual aid networks
- • Neighborhood improvement initiatives
- • Local business support features
Real-World Meetups
- • Easy event planning and coordination
- • Location-based activity suggestions
- • Public space and venue recommendations
- • Weather-aware outdoor activity planning
- • Transportation and carpooling coordination
Conversation Quality
- • Character limits encourage conciseness
- • "Pause and reflect" prompts before posting
- • Tone analysis and emotion detection
- • Conflict de-escalation suggestions
- • Empathy prompts for difficult conversations
Meaningful Sharing
- • Weekly reflection prompts and journals
- • Gratitude sharing and appreciation features
- • Goal setting and accountability partners
- • Learning and growth documentation
- • Milestone celebration and support
Skill Building
- • Active listening exercises and feedback
- • Conversation starter suggestions
- • Body language and nonverbal communication tips
- • Public speaking and presentation skills
- • Networking and relationship building guidance
Personal Growth
- • Emotional intelligence assessments
- • Personality insights and compatibility
- • Conflict resolution workshops
- • Leadership development opportunities
- • Cultural competency and inclusion training
Sustainable Business Model
User-Aligned Revenue
- • Premium Features: Advanced wellness tools, extended family networks
- • Local Business Partnerships: Community event sponsorships
- • Educational Content: Social skills courses and workshops
- • Corporate Wellness: Team building and communication tools
What We Won't Do
- • No Advertising: No ads, tracking, or data mining
- • No Engagement Manipulation: No algorithmic feeds or notifications
- • No Data Sales: User data stays private and secure
- • No Addiction Features: No features designed to increase usage time
Impact Metrics
- • Real-World Meetings: Face-to-face interactions facilitated
- • Community Engagement: Local events and initiatives supported
- • Digital Wellness: Reduced screen time and improved mental health
- • Relationship Quality: Deeper, more meaningful connections
Research Foundation
- • Dunbar's Number: Cognitive limit of ~150 meaningful relationships
- • Social Brain Hypothesis: Human evolution optimized for small groups
- • Flow State Research: Deep engagement requires focused attention
- • Hedonic Adaptation: Constant stimulation reduces satisfaction
- • Social Presence Theory: Face-to-face interaction builds stronger bonds
- • Humane Technology: Technology should serve human flourishing
- • Digital Minimalism: Intentional, values-driven technology use
- • Community Psychology: Strong local ties improve mental health
- • Positive Psychology: Focus on strengths, growth, and well-being
- • Swiss Values: Quality, precision, privacy, and long-term thinking
Challenges & Open Questions
Challenge: Social platforms need critical mass to be useful, but our design actively limits growth mechanisms. How do we achieve sustainable adoption without compromising principles?
Challenge: Building a sustainable business while actively discouraging usage requires innovative monetization. Can we prove that ethical social media can be profitable?
Challenge: People are addicted to current social media patterns. Convincing users to embrace intentional, limited usage requires significant behavioral change.
Question: Is the best social technology the kind that eliminates itself? Should our ultimate goal be to make digital social interaction unnecessary?
Experimental Development Approach
Phase 1: Small Community Experiment
Start with a closed group of 50-100 committed participants in Zurich/Basel area. Test core concepts with people genuinely interested in digital wellness.
- • 6-month pilot program
- • Weekly face-to-face meetups
- • Detailed usage and wellness tracking
- • Regular feedback and iteration
Phase 2: Academic Research Partnership
Partner with Swiss universities to study the impact of intentional social technology on mental health, community engagement, and relationship quality.
- • ETH Zurich or University of Basel collaboration
- • Controlled studies vs. traditional social media
- • Longitudinal mental health and social connection research
- • Open-source findings and methodology
Phase 3: Gradual Expansion
Only expand if research shows positive impact. Growth should be invitation-based and community-driven, not marketing-driven.
- • Community-sponsored growth model
- • City-by-city expansion with local partners
- • Continued research and impact measurement
- • Open-source components for other developers
Want to Be Part of the Experiment?
Antisocial Media is still just an idea, but a necessary one. If you're tired of toxic social media and want to help build something better, let's start a conversation.
Early conversations welcome - researchers, community builders, and digital wellness advocates especially.