New Social App Tangle Aims to Repair Social Media Harm

When the headlines scream about the “terrible devastation” social media has wrought on mental health, a fresh voice emerges from Silicon Valley’s veteran founders. In a recent TechCrunch article, Biz Stone and Evan Sharp unveiled Tangle, an invite‑only app that flips the usual scroll‑and‑like model on its head. Instead of endless feeds, Tangle asks a simple question each morning: “What’s your intention for today?” This shift from passive consumption to active intention‑setting is the cornerstone of the platform’s design.

Why Social Media Needs a Reset

Over the past decade, research has linked mainstream platforms to anxiety, depression, and reduced attention spans. The digital‑wellbeing movement highlights three core problems:

• Algorithmic amplification of sensational content that fuels outrage.
• Social comparison driven by curated highlight reels.
• Attention fragmentation caused by infinite scrolling and push notifications.

These issues have prompted investors, policymakers, and users to search for alternatives that prioritize mental health without sacrificing connection.

Meet the Builders: Biz Stone & Evan Sharp

Biz Stone, a co‑founder of Twitter, and Evan Sharp, the creative mind behind Pinterest, teamed up under the banner of West Co. Their mission: “What could we build that might help address just some of the terrible devastation of the human mind and heart we’ve wrought the last 15 years?” The answer materialized as Tangle, which launched an invite‑only beta in November 2025.

The venture secured seed funding of $29 million, led by Spark Capital. This capital infusion signals strong confidence from the venture community that a values‑first social experience can capture market share.

Core Features That Differentiate Tangle

Tangle’s feature set is deliberately minimalistic yet powerful. Each component is designed to reinforce intentional, positive behavior.

1. Daily Intent Prompt: Upon opening the app, users answer “What’s your intention for today?” This entry becomes a public or private anchor for the day’s activities.
2. Goal Sharing & Accountability: Users can broadcast their intentions to a curated circle of friends, creating a lightweight accountability network.
3. Positive Interaction Engine: Likes are replaced by “affirmations” – short, supportive messages that encourage rather than judge.
4. Threaded Reflection: At day’s end, users can log outcomes, see patterns over weeks, and receive AI‑generated insights about their habit loops.

These mechanics aim to replace the dopamine‑driven scroll with a habit‑forming loop that nurtures personal growth.

Market Context & Potential Impact

The social‑media landscape is at a crossroads. While giants like Meta and X double down on engagement metrics, a growing cohort of users—especially tech‑savvy professionals and digital‑wellbeing advocates—are seeking alternatives. According to recent surveys on social media trends, 42% of respondents plan to reduce time on traditional platforms within the next year.

Tangle’s intentional design aligns perfectly with this shift. By foregrounding purpose over passive consumption, the app could become a flagship example of “well‑being‑first” networking, potentially influencing larger platforms to adopt similar features.

Founders’ Vision in Their Own Words

“We wanted to build a space where people can plan with intention, capture the reality of their days, and see the deeper threads that shape their lives,” says Evan Sharp, CEO of West Co.

“Social media should amplify the best of humanity, not its worst. Tangle is our first step toward that future,” adds Biz Stone.

Building Intent‑Driven Apps with UBOS

Developers inspired by Tangle’s philosophy can accelerate their own projects on the UBOS platform overview. UBOS offers a suite of low‑code tools that let you prototype, launch, and scale purpose‑first applications without writing extensive backend code.

• Web app editor on UBOS – drag‑and‑drop UI components to create daily‑intent forms.
• Workflow automation studio – automate reminder notifications and AI‑generated reflections.
• UBOS templates for quick start – jump‑start with pre‑built “Goal Tracker” or “Well‑Being Journal” templates.
• OpenAI ChatGPT integration – power the end‑of‑day insight engine with conversational AI.
• Chroma DB integration – store user intents and retrieve pattern analytics efficiently.
• ElevenLabs AI voice integration – add spoken affirmations for a richer experience.

For startups looking to launch fast, the UBOS for startups program provides discounted credits and mentorship. SMBs can also benefit from UBOS solutions for SMBs, which include built‑in analytics and compliance tools.

Portfolio Highlights That Echo Tangle’s Ethos

UBOS’s portfolio examples showcase a range of purpose‑driven applications:

• AI SEO Analyzer – helps creators optimize content without the stress of endless keyword hunting.
• AI Article Copywriter – generates high‑quality drafts, freeing writers to focus on creativity.
• AI Video Generator – turns scripts into engaging videos, supporting visual storytelling.
• AI YouTube Comment Analysis tool – surfaces constructive feedback, reducing toxic comment loops.
• AI LinkedIn Post Optimization – encourages professional networking with positive reinforcement.

Pricing, Partnerships, and Next Steps

Developers can explore the UBOS pricing plans that scale from hobbyist to enterprise tiers. For agencies and consultants, the UBOS partner program offers revenue sharing and co‑marketing opportunities.

Whether you’re building a Tangle‑inspired community or a completely new wellbeing‑centric product, UBOS provides the infrastructure, AI integrations, and template marketplace to accelerate your vision.