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A new app, HyperTexting, turns the open web into a scrollable social media-likefeed

HyperTexting is a new iOS app that transforms the web into a scrollable social media-like feed, allowing users to easily follow websites and post content. Created by Caleb Hailey, it aims to decentralize web interaction and revive the personal website concept, drawing inspiration from the decline of Twitter's functionality. The app combines RSS technology with a familiar user experience, promoting personal expression over centralized social media.

Key points

  • HyperTexting is an iOS app designed to make browsing the web feel like scrolling through a social media feed.
  • Created by Caleb Hailey, the app seeks to revive the early idea of personal websites that became less popular due to social media's rise.
  • The app allows users to follow various web content (blogs, news, etc.) and post updates easily, similar to social media interactions.
  • Hailey was motivated by negative experiences with social media, particularly Twitter, which lost its simplicity and chronological feed structure.
  • HyperTexting features an 'Explore' section for trending content and integrates individual websites that users can manage independently.
  • The app utilizes RSS technology in the background without prominently featuring it to attract a broader audience unfamiliar with RSS.

Why it matters

  • The app's focus on returning to a decentralized web mirrors 2025 trends of users favoring privacy and personal ownership over centralized social media platforms.
  • The decline in functionality of platforms like Twitter showcases ongoing frustrations with social media, making alternatives like HyperTexting appealing.
  • Historically, attempts to popularize RSS failed, such as Google Reader shutdown in 2013, suggesting that a user-friendly interface is critical for adoption.

HyperTexting represents a significant shift towards user-centered web interaction by merging familiar social media elements with the autonomy of personal publishing. Its success depends on catering to users' desires for simplicity and control in a landscape dominated by complex social networks.