"Like many other internet dwellers, a majority of my time was spent on apps like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. While some of the biggest splashes on the app charts were AI apps like OpenAI's Sora or Meta's stand-alone AI app - and I tested out both - these felt more like blips in the fast-churning digital trend cycle. Instead, I found myself frequently opening a small handful of apps that feel like an escape from the social media feeds of endless content and AI slop."
"Retro, a photo-sharing app that's focused on smaller-scale sharing for friends and family, remains one of my most-used apps since I first downloaded it in 2023. Founded by former Instagram employees, the app is where I now post my photo dumps to a small circle of about 15 friends. It recently launched a feature that lets you rewind through your old photos every week, making a supercut of memories."
Dozens of mobile apps were downloaded and tested throughout 2025, spanning dating apps, niche social networks, and AI-driven tools. Most usage concentrated on mainstream platforms TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Standalone AI apps such as OpenAI's Sora and Meta's AI attracted attention but operated as short-lived trends. A small set of alternative apps provided calmer, more personal experiences: Retro centers on intimate photo-sharing and offers a weekly rewind supercut; PI.FYI delivers curated recommendations for music and movies; Airbuds reveals friends' listening activity to aid music discovery.
Read at Business Insider
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