For years, our social media experiences have been dominated by giants like Meta and Google. But a growing number of startups are taking aim at these tech behemoths, building new, more personal social networking experiences to connect people with friends, interests, and tighter-knit communities.

Retro is a thoughtfully designed photo-sharing app focused on building private connections. Cosmos offers inspiration through color and keywords, while Indigo provides a unified experience across multiple decentralized networks. Corner lets users curate local favorites into lists they can 'gatekeep.' Divine, a Vine reboot, aims to offer short-form video creators a new home.

Mesh is a networking tool that tracks updates from your LinkedIn or X bio and allows you to reach out on a cadence of your choosing. Fable now offers a bundled service with digital reading subscription provider Everand, making it an attractive choice for book clubs. Finally, Locket puts friends directly on your iPhone’s Home Screen in real-time.