Within the wake of Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter, users have been fleeing to different social apps like open source microblogging platform Mastodon and area of interest communities like CounterSocial. Now, one other social app known as Hive is seeing a boost in sign-ups in response to the upheaval at Twitter. The app at present finds itself within the high 20 on the U.S. App Retailer after seeing a surge of latest curiosity over the weekend because the scenario at Twitter continues to devolve.
Based in 2019 by then-22-year-old Kassandra Pop, Hive just isn’t a direct Twitter clone. As a substitute, the Gen Z-focused social app was described in a Teen Vogue profile last year as combining ideas from a wide range of social networks, together with each Instagram and Twitter and even MySpace — the latter because of a characteristic that lets Hive customers add music to their profiles, amongst different issues.
The app can also be not solely timeline-based, as Twitter is. Along with the primary feed, Hive’s customers can discover their pursuits throughout a spread of topic-based communities, like Science, Tech, Automobiles, Music, Style, Pets, Crafts, Books, Journey, Gaming, Artwork, Meals and lots of others. Right here, customers can like, remark and repost the shared content material, just like different social networks, in addition to click on on hashtags to dive in additional.
Picture Credit: Hive
In some respects, Hive could really feel extra comfy to former Twitter customers searching for a brand new residence as a result of the app has a easy and acquainted set of navigation choices — there are tabs for viewing the primary timeline or feed, a “Uncover” part for exploring the social community, a tab for accessing your profile, and one other on your notifications, for instance. Within the middle, there’s a button to create a brand new put up.
Hive additionally makes use of the identical follower-based mannequin as Twitter, versus the mutual friending mannequin you’d discover on a community like Fb.
Nonetheless, not like most social networks, Hive avoids personalization algorithms in favor of a chronological feed and it doesn’t monetize utilizing adverts. As a substitute, Hive presents customers the flexibility to pay to unlock further slots that permit them showcase extra of their favourite music on their profile. These vary from $0.99 for a second slot to $1.99 for a 3rd or fourth, the app’s App Retailer itemizing signifies.
Hive has been gaining traction within the weeks main as much as Musk’s acquisition of Twitter and the times that adopted. In response to information from app intelligence agency Sensor Tower, round 214,000 of Hive’s complete 733,000 lifetime installs throughout iOS and Android arrived over the past 30 days alone. Of be aware, Hive appears to have gained the eye of these outdoors the U.S. — its non-U.S. installs account for round 86% of Hive’s complete downloads, Sensor Tower mentioned.
Information.ai’s estimates are largely in keeping with Sensor Tower’s, because it sees 720,000+ lifetime installs as of Nov. 20, however sees a better quantity — 370,000 — coming from the U.S.
Picture Credit: Hive
The app noticed one other surge in sign-ups beginning on Friday and persevering with over the weekend.
Maybe not coincidentally, this was across the time Musk decided to welcome back former President Donald Trump to Twitter by unlocking his account. Although Trump hasn’t but tweeted, saying he prefers his personal app Reality Social, it appears Musk’s transfer was sufficient to encourage much more of Twitter’s customers to search for alternate options as they ponder leaping ship.
Sensor Tower’s information signifies Hive gained round 144,000 new installs over the previous few days (Friday, Nov. 18 via Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022). 22,000 of these installs have been from the U.S. alone, it says. Throughout this time, the app additionally jumped from the No. 338 total iPhone app on the U.S. App Retailer to turn into the No. 17 app at present. Within the U.Okay. it’s No. 17 and it’s No 24 in Canada.
The app was additionally the No. 3 app within the U.S. Social Networking class as of the time of writing, Sensor Tower mentioned.
In response to posts on Hive’s TikTok, the app crashed over the weekend as another 80,000 people signed as much as test it out. As of this morning, Hive’s Twitter account reported the app now has “practically 900,000” customers signed up in complete. (This quantity doesn’t precisely line up with Sensor Tower’s obtain estimates, however third-party information just isn’t a precise science.)
@officialhivesocial HOW DO YOU LOSE 44 BILLION IN ONE MONTH?? Anyway be part of Hive, hyperlink in bio🐝🫶 #riptwitter #goodbyetwitter #twittershutdown #twitterdown #elontwitter #elonmusk #hivesocial ♬ original sound – Hive Team🐝💛
This weekend isn’t the primary time Hive has seen an inflow of latest customers. The app additionally noticed a quick spike in downloads in Feb. 2021, when it gained 439,000 new installs, 64% of which have been from the U.S., Sensor Tower information exhibits. This surge might be attributed to the founder’s determination to pay a TikTok influencer to create a video, which resulted in some 250,000 installs in a matter of days, she claimed in an interview at the time.
Hive’s enchantment could not solely be as a result of its mixing of social networking ideas or its ease-of-use in contrast with signing up for Mastodon, which has confused some would-be customers who don’t perceive find out how to choose a server or what “fediverse” means. As with BeReal, Gen Z appears extra drawn to newer social networks run by indie founders, not launched by large tech manufacturers.
The app was beforehand spotted raising money on WeFunder however has not made any official fundraising bulletins. (The app, which is accessible at Hivesocial.app, shouldn’t be confused with the older Hive Social app, beforehand hosted at hivesocial.com and promoted by “The Bachelorette” contestant Peter Kraus.)
We had bother pulling up Hive on Twitter by way of search, the place it’s ranked within the thirtieth spot for a seek for the key phrases “hive social,” (sans quotes) and doesn’t come up in any respect in case you search “hive app.” Sus! The precise Twitter account for the app is “@TheHIVE_Social,” however even a seek for “thehive_social” particularly returns solely the founder’s Twitter account (Raluca is her Romanian title).
Hive hadn’t responded to requests for remark on the time of publication. Shortly after, Kassandra Pop replied with the newest metrics as of at present, Nov. 21, 2022, 12:52 PM PT. She mentioned sign-ups since Thursday night time had topped 400,000 and the app at present has 998,000 customers. It later topped 1 million.
We perceive Hive is run by a team of three, together with Pop and two different builders, whose full names the founder gained’t present to the press. Customers are elevating issues about Hive’s safety, given this case, and noting the app has some odd quirks — like non-unique usernames which might result in impersonation, for instance. Others have pointed to obscure’s terms and privacy policy, lack of 2FA and the inexperienced staff as causes to be cautious.
Reached for remark, Pop mentioned Hive’s sudden traction is “so much for [the team] to course of and so they’re specializing in the product itself,” when requested why she gained’t title her fellow staff members.
Replace: as of 4 PM ET, the app has reached 1,000,000 customers she mentioned. The headline has been up to date to replicate this transformation. Additionally added details about Hive’s staff.
