Many individuals have attempted to fill the void left by Twitter/X, yet only a handful of new social media platforms have gained any momentum, with Threads and Bluesky being notable examples.
However, a fresh application developed by Twitter co-founder Ev Williams is not aiming to replace them. Instead, it focuses on one of the aspects I cherish most about social media, and excludes everything else…
According to Williams, the issue with social media is that it has progressively lost its “social” component.
During the height of Facebook’s popularity, it likely mirrored many people’s real-life connections quite well. It provided insights into where friends lived, shared mutual acquaintances, and countless other details. However, social networks transitioned into “social media,” which initially allowed us to receive content from carefully selected individuals.
Yet, in the pursuit of maximizing engagement, the timelines of our chosen friends and followed individuals morphed into chaotic competitions for attention. Consequently, it has become evident that, for the majority, our friends aren’t as entertaining as (heaven forbid) influencers who dedicate their lives to crafting “content.”
In essence, social media turned into…media.
That resonates with me. I joined Facebook somewhat reluctantly years ago when a social group I was part of began organizing gatherings on the platform. Initially, I was very selective about adding friends, sticking only to those I knew in real life. Yet, as it emerged as the primary means to stay updated with my interest groups, I had to abandon that approach. Today, I have Facebook friends I’ve never actually met, alongside casual acquaintances I greet once a year.
Nonetheless, one feature I truly appreciate is how it enables genuine meetups. There have been numerous occasions where I’ve shared my travel plans, only to have a friend reach out to say they would be in the same location as well, prompting us to arrange a meetup. Conversely, I often discover friends’ plans through their posts, leading to dinners ranging from Buenos Aires to San Francisco, Amsterdam, Dubai, and Tokyo.
And that’s the essence of Mozi.
Mozi’s primary value proposition is straightforward: It informs you when you will be in the same location (city or event) as someone you know. The objective is clear: to enhance personal connections—in person— with those who matter to you.
For instance, I recently returned from Miami. Before my trip, I entered my plans (just the city and dates) into Mozi. This information was shared solely with my contacts (excluding any I didn’t wish to share it with). So even before arriving, I could see both friends living there and others visiting simultaneously, allowing us to coordinate meetups.
That’s the whole concept. There are no posts, no images, just real-world locations and arrangements.
The app prioritizes privacy. Although you share your contacts to identify who is on Mozi, the data is encrypted and is never utilized by the company for other purposes. Only mutual contacts can view your current and planned locations.
Currently, Mozi has had a soft launch with a limited user base, so it’s not surprising that none of my contacts are using it yet. However, unlike Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon—where I simply registered my username and never returned—I have actually installed Mozi.
It remains to be seen whether the app can break through the Catch-22 dilemma of no one using a new social media platform because it is underutilized.
Mozi is currently available only on iOS and exclusively supports Sign In With Apple.
Image: Mozi
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