Experimented with Seven39, the Restricted Social Media Platform Operatingnaire Three Hours Daily
Experimenting with Time: Diving into Seven39's Social Network
Welcome to the world of constant connectivity, but what if our digital interactions were confined to specific windows? That's the captivating concept behind Seven39, an avant-garde social network that's open for a fleeting, three-hour window every day, commencing at 7:39 PM Eastern. I recently hopped on the platform, discovering a close-knit community eager to embark on something groundbreaking.
For close to half a century, we've experimented with this global interconnectedness, relying on the same handful of social networks to cater to our daily digital needs. To put it mildly, it's not a seamless ride. And perhaps that's why so many alternatives to Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook continue to pop up, all boasting a unique selling proposition. Some, like Mastodon and Bluesky, have centralized decentralization as their central tenet.
What sets Seven39 apart is its temporal twist: you've got a three-hour window to explore the network every day, and that's it. Given the grand mission of every other social network—to gobble up as much of your time as possible—this is nothing short of revolutionary. "No non-stop scrolling. No fear of missing out. Just three hours of fun every evening," the platform promises.
I logged in recently and was captured by the nostalgic design reminiscent of the early 2000s. You've got a post exploration box above a streaming timeline of all network posts. You can keep up with the latest with ease, but there's also a "Top Posts" section to curate the posts with the most likes if you prefer the cream of the crop. Just like other social networks, you can follow users, and their posts will appear in your "Following" section. Likes, replies are the only means of interaction here, and posts primarily consist of text, with the option to add images or sixty-second videos.
These functionalities combine to form an internet-inspired small town. The conversations veered across a broad spectrum, from discussions on the platform itself to daily life, favorite TV shows, and more. I observed a few topics about Seven39 itself, with European users expressing their disappointment at having to log in during the late-night hours. For the most part, however, users talked about their lives, interests, and dreams. I noticed very little political content, virtually no influencer culture, Instead, just everyday individuals engaging in casual banter.
And honestly, that's what the digital world needs more of—genuine, non-commercial discourse among individuals. This platform isn't aiming to replace the heavyweights of social media, and that's absolutely okay. On the contrary, it raises the bar by offering an experience that prioritizes engagement over consumption.
In the realm of innovative social networks, Seven39 stands out with its unique three-hour window approach, challenging the traditional, around-the-clock dominance of platforms like Facebook. Honest reflection suggests that an experiment like this could potentially redefine digital interactions, moving away from endless scrolling towards a more balanced, tension-free usage of technology. Interestingly, this limited engagement model ranged from text-based posts to sixty-second videos, fostering a virtual community centered around human connections rather than the politicized or commercially driven content often found on other networks.
