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tbh — The only anonymous app with positive vibes
tbh is where friends tell you what they like about you. Simply add your friends, answer polls about friends (anonymously), and earn 💎 gems when you get picked.
🔒 Only available in California, Florida, Washington, Texas, Georgia, Indiana, and Rhode Island.
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This app has remained under the radar in the tech world until recently. It's currently #1 in the App Store (free, U.S.).
I'm not too surprised to see it blowing up among the younger audience. Anonymous apps often drive a ton of engagement through its mystery and polls are an effective way to solicit responses and engagement.
One of my favorite parts of this app is that every question has a positive / funny vibe to it. Every other anonymous app could be used for bullying, but this one can't.
@vineetdevaiah sure, but I've seen anonymous apps that tout that experience and are unable to maintain that atmosphere because the features allow for trolling
@besvinick ok, it just felt like u had not used the app for more than a couple of minutes but wanted to post a quick review to product hunt because #facetime but I was wrong. Thanks for the comment 👍🏼
@besvinick this is still the comment I went looking for to back up their claims. When I read that the app had only a positive vibe I did not believe it for a second and didn't understand the premise. My automatic response was "Yeah, right. Okay, sure" while scenes of the Black Mirror episode where you rate people played through my mind.
@vineetdevaiah @besvinick I'm wondering how this app will avoid trolling. I'm reminded of Rocket League where some of the preset chat messages ended up not meaning what was intended. eg: "What a save!" is used sarcastically more often than not.
Hello Chris,
Don't you think Instagram's success proves that Social Itch Scratching is a viable product category, if done right?
No social app does anything for young people. That’s why so many are in fact self-absorbed, antisocial morons today. Your opening sentence reminds me why almost everyone over 50 who works with tech wants to set it all in fire.
Just saw this on my daughter's phone today ... seems like it's starting to get some good attention with teens.
There is also a great viral tactic in the form of a timer that requires you to wait to take a survey unless you extend that time by sending invites. App also requires you to give access to your contacts and location, no way to skip. I'm a big fan of setting these hard requirements for users if your app's success is going to be determined by it.
I can see how this might become highly popular with tons of engagement. Putting my grumpy old guy hat on and I'll admit I'm happy these didn't exist when I was a teenager. I can foresee long discussions trying to get my kids to focus on important things instead of being convinced they're no good because some other kid wins more popularity contests in an app.
@brunomorency my thoughts exactly. While there may be no bullying and outright maliciousness, vanity metrics + teens = recipe for depression, which is quite ironic.
@wuss what about the kids receiving dozens of votes and telling other kids in the classroom how popular they are? don't you think that could make the not so famous kids jealous, which indeed could be a recipe for depressions? 🤔
@dubstrike We limited it to a few states to ensure reliability of the service. We didn't think it'd be so popular.
Does anyone know why they decided to keep it USA-only, while it was available outside before?
Love that you are focused on keeping the app positive and funny. @thetbhapp - how do you keep the positive vide and make sure things down turn to bullying?
@tylerswartz we write every poll—or, at least, review it before pushing it live. This ensures that every message sent on tbh is uplifting or funny.
@thetbhapp the simple and effective approach. 👌 I was half expecting some ML/Big Data/The Cloud for analyzing sentiment answer 😆
Some thoughts on tbh, as well as generally about product growth and ux. Would love to hear what you all think, especially the makers! @thetbhapp https://medium.com/@craig5446/ux...
Kudos for keeping it positive, but I'd wonder about the psychological repercussions to users.
It reminds me of parenting practices that had big implications to millenials, esp in the US, where we were told we're special and great and get awards for coming in last place cus we tried hard. It resulted in millions of young adults who can't handle rejection, criticism, and reality.
So, yeah, good to be positive, but if this app becomes a big thing, it may contribute to depression and unrealistic expectations in young people.
Have the makers thought about this? Apologies if I'm missing the point of the app, but throwing this out there in case its not something you all considered yet.
Much luck!
@ycphillips Lol you're so convinced of that cliche that you take it that literally? that would make sense since none of your criticisms of the app were valid. (maybe you would prefer a libetertarian second-life chatroom?)
@cucumbur what exactly is the point your trying to make? If you wanna talk about valid arguments then please contrubute one. My comment was a point to consider for the apps makers, not a criticism of the app, and def not a means to get douchey comments from random kids Seattle.
If this is just for product compliments then I guess I'm in the wrong place. Keep it real Ricky. Once again, kudos to the makers.
@ycphillips Okay have all the fun you want shoehorning politically motivated armchair psychology then. I hope by the time I am as far into my adult life as you are that I won't be grabbing for straws to insult a "kid". tbh
my 14 year old told me about this app last week and it's born out of the way kids use the hashtag #tbh in instagram and other apps they currently use - great execution!
following some of Dan Ariely's talks, I can see a tinder style app using this model to keep dating positive and interesting.
Not available in U.K plus not able to see 🙈any details on the website... but sound all good 😂
I can say it has exploded in my area with almost the all of my high school on it. How do you plan on monetizing it?
@niccampanile Same deal with the high school I attend. @thetbhapp is fantastic at encouraging word of mouth, but I have no idea how they'll capitalize on it.
@zebmccorkle Yep, it took my school by storm in about 2 school days. Their marketing tactic is fantastic with the play limit unless you invite a friend and state regulations to generate hype. Only monetization I could think they could do would be:
A. Advertisements
B. Pay to skip play wait
Highschoolers are a tricky audience to work with though, one mistake and the trend dies.
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