The compulsive and mindless nature at which people scroll through their social media feeds acted as the driving force behind the creation of 'Binky,' a disconnected social media app made to act as a pacifier for people who can't stop looking at their phones. This app is intended to reflect the "banality of our mobile screens" through providing a service that gives you something to do, while accomplishing nothing.
The app consists of a news feed that is reminiscent of Instagram's image-based structure and lets users scroll through boring and pointless photos simply captioned "eye lash" or "Mailroom." Users can comment, 're-bink' or 'like' the images, however, based on the anti-social nature of the app, no one will ever see your profile or comments. The app essentially takes other people out of social media, providing a space where people can get their social media fix by mindlessly scrolling, while making no impact on their surroundings.
What's Driving This Trend
- Anti-social Media
- Opportunity for businesses to create social media platforms that prioritize disconnecting and reducing the compulsive nature of scrolling.
- Mindless Engagement
- Potential for businesses to develop apps or platforms that provide mindless content for users, catering to the desire for mindless scrolling and pacifying phone habits.
- Disruptive Digital Experiences
- Opportunity for businesses to disrupt the traditional social media experience by creating platforms that challenge the norms of connectivity and engagement.
Who This Affects Most
- Social Media
- The social media industry has the potential to evolve by offering disconnected platforms that address the compulsive nature of scrolling and reduce the impact of social interactions.
- Mobile App Development
- Opportunity for mobile app developers to create anti-social media apps that provide mindless engagement opportunities for users, catering to their desire to scroll without social interaction.
- Digital Entertainment
- The digital entertainment industry can explore the development of platforms and apps that offer mindless and purposeless content to pacify users' constant desire for engagement.
