Bloom reimagines social media as digital gardens we tend to together. Communities can start their own gardens, invite members and have engaging conversations. The platform aims to bring the spark of life back into online conversation.
Why An Alternative Social Media?
My collaborator and I felt a seething disconnection with social media. It has sadly become all about toxic addiction, the tyranny of linear chat archives, mindless scrolling, algorithms that consume us and not the other way around.
Why Bloom?
Because it offers a delightful escape from the noise of traditional social media. It changes the aim from an 'attention arms race' back to real human connection. It accomplishes this by making conversation part of the design language. When you 'respond' to someone, the flower grows. You meaningfully change the design by engaging. By 'posting' or planting a thought, you take up a time-bound space in the garden. That timer can be extended only if other people find your thought engaging and choose to water it.
What Are The Next Steps?
We're currently exploring product-market fit, trying to find the specific usage and segment of users that are most delighted by the platform. Right now, it's a web-app but we're also hoping to launch a native app down the road. Additionally, we're excited to explore the use-case of personal gardens along with community gardens.
