Many have attempted to take over the role of Twitter/X, yet only a few new social media platforms have gained any significant following, particularly Threads and Bluesky.
In contrast, a new app launched by Twitter co-founder Ev Williams aims not to compete with these platforms but to focus on a core aspect of social media that I truly appreciate, eschewing everything else…
According to Williams, the issue with modern social media is its gradual departure from the “social” component.
When Facebook was at its peak, it likely mirrored the real-life connections of many individuals. It revealed where you lived, your mutual acquaintances, and various other details. However, social networks evolved into “social media,” which initially meant receiving updates from individuals you selected to follow.
But in pursuit of higher engagement, the feeds from friends and chosen contacts transformed into chaotic battlegrounds for attention. Ultimately, most people are finding that their friends aren’t as captivating as (heaven forbid) influencers who dedicate their time to creating “content.”
In essence, social media shifted to become…media.
That resonates with me. I joined Facebook reluctantly many years ago because a social group I was part of began organizing meetups on the platform. Initially, I was quite selective about adding friends, confining them to those I knew personally. However, as it became the primary way to stay updated on my interests, I eventually had to abandon that approach. Now, I find myself having Facebook friends I’ve never met or casual acquaintances I greet only once a year.
Nonetheless, one element I genuinely appreciate is its ability to facilitate in-person gatherings. There have been numerous occasions where I’ve shared travel plans, only to have a friend reach out to say they were there too and wanted to meet up. Conversely, I’ve done the same upon seeing their posts. This has led to meals with friends in cities like Buenos Aires, San Francisco, Amsterdam, Dubai, and Tokyo.
That’s the essence of Mozi.
Mozi’s primary value offering is straightforward: it notifies you when you’ll be in the same city or attending the same event as someone in your network. The clear goal is to foster more frequent—and in-person—connections with those you care about.
For instance, I recently returned from Miami. Prior to my trip, I entered my travel details (just the city and dates) into Mozi. This information was shared solely with my contacts (excluding those I didn’t want included). Even before arriving, I could see both friends who reside there and others visiting at the same time, allowing us to make plans to meet up.
That’s all there is to it. No posts, no pictures—just real-life locations and plans.
The app is designed with privacy in mind. While you connect with contacts on Mozi, your data is encrypted and never utilized by the company for any other purposes. Only shared contacts can see your location or planned whereabouts.
Currently, Mozi is in a soft-launch phase with a limited audience, so it’s no surprise that none of my contacts have adopted it yet. Unlike Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon—where I merely claimed a username and never returned—I have genuinely installed Mozi.
It remains to be seen whether it can overcome the classic problem of a new social media app struggling due to a lack of users.
Mozi is available exclusively on iOS and supports Sign In With Apple only.
Image: Mozi
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