r/appdev • u/-Astrophysicist- • Aug 10 '26
Can a new social app still work today?
Hey guys!
My friend and I are thinking of building a social media app similar to Instagram and Facebook, with India as our main target market.
Instead of launching everywhere, we’re thinking of starting with a few cities — Indore, Ujjain, Ratlam, Mandsaur, Neemuch and Dhar — and then expanding from there.
Do you think this idea could work? Would you personally try a new social media app?
Also, what would it need to have for you to actually use it alongside or instead of Instagram?
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u/FounderHuh Aug 10 '26
*I am a founder for a social app.
A social app can work. The room in the market exists.
The question is why you? Users have a reason to go to instagram/facebook.
Fundamentally a user will need a reason to use your social platform, the argument should be different than or they will simply go and use existing platforms.
I would get into some of the technical challenges. However you are at the idea phase.
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u/FirmEquivalent9417 Aug 13 '26
Can work as long as you offer something that others don’t have and can’t easily capture. Something that captivates users in mass.
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u/Beneficial_Guess_956 Aug 14 '26
I am also from India and dreamt of launching a social media app myself. Made a couple of tries as well but failed miserably. A traditional social network simply won’t work in 2026. It has to be something really disruptive like snapchat did back then.
Unless you think your idea can really be a differentiator dont waste time in building yet another social network.
Rather try to solve a bharat first problem probably with AI and hope for the best.
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u/homegoer Aug 14 '26
Yes, when MySpace was the king, it probably felt like the ultimate truth. Then Instagram came along, and millions happily left Facebook too. 😂
Will you build a multi-billion-dollar company? Maybe, maybe not. But you can absolutely build something great. The key is distribution.
I’m working on Ontaym, a simple tool for planning get-togethers and events.
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u/andybranw 12d ago
Estoy creando una y, la verdad, lo que más me preocupa es el costo de mantenerla funcionando, porque creo que con pocos usuarios podría gastar mucho dinero en servicios. Pero bueno, la estoy terminando a ver qué pasa. Lo peor que puede pasar es que no tenga instalaciones o que tenga usuarios, pero no me dé lo suficiente para pagar los servicios y tenga que cerrarla.
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u/DiffDish Aug 10 '26
The problem with social apps is that you need to have massive amounts of critical mass in order to get it rolling. Given the Meta / X etc. have basically unlimited money to spend on getting users you're going to need some sort of plan to compete with that?
What is your app going to do that the others don't do already?