Phictly App Creates Niche Social Clubs for Books and TV Shows

A new social media app is launching for fans of specific stories. Phictly lets users form small clubs around single books, movies, or TV shows. It launched on iOS and Android this week.

The app aims to solve the problem of finding engaged niche communities. It was created to foster focused discussion without the noise of larger platforms.

Focused Features for Fan Communities

Phictly’s core feature is the small, title-specific club. Each club is capped at just 20 members. This design encourages intimate and active conversation.

Users can set the pace for their club. A club can last for a single day or extend up to 30 days. This accommodates both binge-watchers and slow-paced readers.

A key innovation is the spoiler management system. Users can post spoilers that are automatically blurred. Others can choose to reveal them when they reach that story point.

Building on Creator’s Personal Experience

The app’s founder, Nyleena Aiken, got the idea from a personal book club. She struggled to find books that interested all her sisters. She realized a need for hyper-focused discussion groups.

According to TechCrunch, Aiken analyzed competitor platforms. She found many large groups had little real interactivity. Phictly is her answer for more meaningful connection.

The app includes a “Talk Points” feature for scheduling discussions. It also has tracking tools similar to Goodreads. Future updates will add interest-based matching and video game clubs.

Phictly enters a crowded social media space with a unique proposition. Its success will depend on attracting fans seeking genuine, spoiler-safe conversation. The app highlights a growing demand for curated digital community experiences.

Info at your fingertips

Q1: How is Phictly different from Goodreads or Facebook Groups?

Phictly is built for small, temporary clubs focused on one title. Goodreads is for broader reading tracking and large communities. Facebook Groups are often much larger and less structured for paced discussion.

Q2: Is the Phictly app free to use?

Yes, the app is currently free to download and use. The company has indicated it may introduce a premium subscription tier in the future for additional features like private profiles.

Q3: How does the app handle spoilers?

It has a built-in spoiler blur feature. Any user can mark text as a spoiler, and it appears blurred for others. Club members can tap to reveal it when they are ready, preventing accidental reveals.

Q4: What kinds of clubs can I join on Phictly?

Clubs are centered on specific books, TV shows, and movies. The company plans to expand into video game clubs in a future update. You can find clubs for everything from new fantasy novels to classic sitcoms.

Q5: Can I create a private club for my friends?

Currently, all clubs on the platform are discoverable by other users. The planned premium subscription may include an option to create fully private, invitation-only clubs in the future.

Trusted Sources

TechCrunch.