New social platform stores life interests privately

Flat lay of a smartphone on a laptop with social media photos on screen. Photo: Peter C/Pexels

Most social media apps focus on what users are doing right now, but ThingsBook takes a different approach. It’s a text-first social platform and journaling app where every post is filed into a collection, such as books, movies, or hobbies.

This approach allows users to create a catalogue of their interests, rather than a timeline that quickly becomes outdated. ThingsBook has no character limits, no pressure to post polished photos, and no feed that rushes users’ writing off the screen.

How it Works

The app is designed to help users keep track of their favorite things, such as books, movies, and podcasts. Users can scan a barcode or type in an ISBN, and the app will pull in the details and cover art without requiring manual typing.

Users can then write a review, attach photos, and update their progress as they go. This creates a visual library of what they consume and how they feel about it, with a to-be-read pile sitting next to finished favorites.

A Shelf for Every Obsession

Every post on ThingsBook can be public, shared with chosen friends, or kept entirely private. This allows the app to serve as a diary, a reading log, or a small book club, depending on who the user lets in.

In comparison to other apps, such as Goodreads for books or Letterboxd for films, ThingsBook puts these habits under one roof and gives them room for proper writing.

Monetization

ThingsBook has no ads, no subscriptions, and no in-app purchases. Features that other apps would lock behind a paywall, including AI background removal for photos and editing tools, are free for everyone.

The app also has a Writers Program that pays $10 for each approved long-form post, up to $300 in total. Additionally, there are themed writing contests with cash rewards or platform perks, some run with partners like Webtoon and Wattpad.

However, the Writers Program is only open to users aged 18 and above in the US and Canada, leaving writers in other countries to write for love rather than money.

ThingsBook has a rating of 4.5 on the App Store from 1,900 ratings and has passed 100,000 downloads on the Play Store.

Who it’s For

ThingsBook is suitable for people who already keep lists, such as a to-be-read pile or a watch log, and would rather keep them in a journal-like format. It’s also a gentler home for anyone tired of performing for a feed, as the default is writing for oneself and sharing only when desired.

As with any newer social platform, the people on ThingsBook will decide how lively it feels, but since posts can be kept private, the archive is useful even before anyone else shows up. This makes ThingsBook a unique and appealing option for those looking for a more personal and reflective social media experience.