'Gas' is a new social media platform designed to facilitate authentic and positive interaction amongst teens. It is well known that the use of social media can have negative impacts on the health and well-being of teens. For example, it can distract them, disrupt their sleep, and expose them to bullying and peer pressure. To counter these effects, Gas focuses on cultivating positivity in a smaller social network.
Users can only interact through polls and with people they have accepted as a friend. While anyone can sign up, Gas is aimed more at teen users. Registrants can even select their high school and create friend lists consisting of only their classmates. Unlike apps such as Snapchat or Instagram, Gas does not support messaging between users. According to the app's website, the goal of Gas is to "create a place that makes us feel better about ourselves."
Teen Positivity Apps
'Gas' is a Positivity-Focused Social Media Platform for Teens
Trend Themes
1. Positivity-focused Social Media - The success of 'Gas' can inspire other social media platforms to shift their focus towards positivity and well-being.
2. Smaller Social Networks - Gas's emphasis on cultivating positivity in a smaller social network can disrupt the traditional idea of large social media platforms and encourage more intimate social interactions.
3. School-centered Networking - The feature of including classmates' friend lists can be adapted to educational and career-oriented social networks to create more specialized and personalized communities.
Industry Implications
1. Social Media - Social media industries can explore how positivity-focused apps like Gas can bring a positive change in user behavior and well-being.
2. Education Technology - Education technology industries can explore ways to integrate social media platforms that encourage school-centered networking and positive interactions.
3. Health and Wellness - Health and wellness industries can explore how social media can lead to stress reduction and mental well-being by creating positivity-focused communities.