Tangle app targets social media fatigue with human-first design

Tangle, a new social platform built by technology veterans Biz Stone and Evan Sharp, has raised $15 million in early-stage funding to challenge the addictive dynamics that have come to define mainstream social media, positioning itself as an antidote to algorithm-driven scrolling and online exhaustion.

The app, which has been developed quietly over the past year, seeks to reverse patterns of compulsive engagement by encouraging users to plan intentional interactions and prioritise real-world connections over constant digital consumption. Its launch comes at a moment when policymakers, parents and users are questioning the social costs of platforms optimised for attention rather than wellbeing.

Stone, best known as a co-founder of Twitter, and Sharp, who helped shape Pinterest’s visual discovery model, have framed Tangle as a response to what they describe as a “broken social contract” between platforms and users. Instead of feeds that endlessly refresh and nudge people back with notifications, Tangle is designed around deliberate check-ins, small groups and time-bound interactions.

The $15 million funding round was led by a group of early-stage technology investors with experience backing consumer platforms, according to people familiar with the matter. The capital will be used to expand the engineering team, refine the product ahead of a broader public rollout and test features aimed at translating online intent into offline activity.

Tangle’s core concept centres on planning rather than posting. Users are prompted to state what they want to do, whether meeting friends, collaborating on a project or simply having a meaningful conversation, and then connect with others who share similar intentions. The interface limits passive consumption and removes public metrics such as follower counts or viral rankings, features that research has linked to anxiety and social comparison.

The founders argue that this structure helps counter behavioural loops that keep people online longer than intended. Studies published in academic journals over the past decade have associated infinite scroll design, variable rewards and algorithmic amplification with habit formation and reduced attention spans, particularly among younger users.

Regulatory pressure has added momentum to these debates. Governments in Europe, the United States and parts of Asia have increased scrutiny of how social platforms affect mental health, especially among teenagers. Proposed and enacted measures range from age-appropriate design codes to restrictions on targeted advertising and default notification settings.

At the same time, user behaviour is shifting. Surveys by research firms tracking digital wellbeing show rising levels of social media fatigue, with users reporting frustration at polarised discourse, perceived performativity and time lost to feeds that feel detached from real relationships. This has created space for niche platforms that promise healthier engagement, even as many struggle to achieve scale.

Tangle enters a crowded but fragile field that includes community-based apps, private group messaging services and event-oriented networks. What distinguishes it, the founders say, is a clear refusal to monetise attention. The company has indicated it will not rely on advertising tied to engagement metrics, though it has not yet detailed a long-term revenue model.

That decision brings its own challenges. Competing against global platforms with billions of users and vast marketing budgets is difficult without network effects or aggressive growth tactics. Analysts note that previous attempts to build “healthier” social networks have often stalled after initial enthusiasm, constrained by limited reach and the gravitational pull of established ecosystems.

Still, Stone and Sharp bring credibility that few startups in this space can claim. Both have spoken publicly about lessons learned from earlier platforms, acknowledging that design choices made with good intentions can have unintended consequences at scale. Tangle’s small-team approach and slower rollout reflect an effort to avoid repeating those mistakes.

Early testers have described the app as calmer and less performative than mainstream networks, though some have questioned whether its emphasis on planning may limit spontaneous interaction. The company has said it is iterating on features that balance structure with flexibility, including optional reminders and lightweight discovery tools.