In the early days of social media, posting a rant on Myspace about the latest episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” felt like the ultimate Thursday night activity. And discovering a Facebook group called “Team Jacob Forever” was one of the best discoveries.
Finding the perfect niche community may seem impossible these days, but a new social app called Phictly aims to change that.
The app, available for iOS and Android devices, allows users to form clubs around their favorite books, TV shows, and movies, creating niche communities where people can discuss specific interests without judgement.
For example, users can pop into a club, read fantasy books, gossip about Violet and Zaden from Rebecca Yarosz’s “The Fourth Wing,” or reminisce about the early days of “Grey’s Anatomy.”
The app was created by Nyleena Aiken after she and her sisters started a book club and struggled to find books that would interest everyone. She realized that many people were likely facing the same challenges and would benefit from an app that specialized in creating groups around one specific title at a time.
“If you look at our competitors, there are a lot of large groups with very little interactivity,” Aiken explained to TechCrunch. “Phictly focuses on discussion and adjusts to everyone’s fast-paced lifestyle, so users can fit conversations into their schedules.”
Phictly’s key features include a cap of 20 members per club to keep discussions intimate, and users can also set the pace of their clubs based on their reading and viewing habits. For example, people who like speed reading or binge-watching can create or join clubs that last just one or two days, while those who prefer a slower pace can join clubs that last up to 30 days.
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Another notable feature allows users to post with spoilers hidden until others get to that part of the story. Each spoiler is initially blurred and users can choose when to reveal it so everyone stays on the same page. Phictly also includes a “Talk Point” feature, which allows users to set check-in dates to discuss specific episodes or chapters, giving everyone a chance to participate in the conversation.
Similar to Goodreads, users can also track what they’re currently reading or watching, record titles, and set personal goals for their reading and browsing habits.
Future updates will introduce a matching system that pairs users based on shared interests, favorite genres, and common TV shows and books. The app will eventually expand to include clubs focused on video games.
Phictly is free to download, but a premium subscription may soon be available with additional features, such as the ability to create private profiles.
