New social media platform pledges to be 'safer' online space for young people

A new social media platform called Tribela is in its final stages to provide under-18s with a ‘safer space’ compared to other popular apps.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), up to 95% of teenagers aged 13 to 17 report using social media, with over a third admitting that they use it “almost constantly.” While social media can be entertaining, the amount of time spent can also lead to some consequences, such as the so-called feeling of ‘tech regret.’

This refers to the feeling of remorse someone experiences after realising they’ve spent too much time using their smartphones - or any technological device. Bu that's where new app Tribela comes in.

In an effort to provide a healthier online space for teenagers and communicate with each other, Tribela was created as a collaboration of academics, students and alumni from Oxford University Innovation.

Tribela aims to connect users with similar interests and passions, creating a community that inspires them to make a positive impact. As explained on its website, the app will allow users to customise their own feeds, providing content moderation, and enjoy a non-addictive design. The app also works on reducing harassment, bots or fake accounts.

In an interview with the BBC, its founder Natalie Boll said: “Social media in itself is not bad, it’s just how we design it and how we regulate it that needs work.” She also pointed out that the main difference that sets them out from other social media platforms is their safety features and recommendation system.

She added: “I worked in the media for 20 years, but it wasn’t until I had children and saw the effects of social media on them, and particularly my daughter, that I really opened my eyes to the harm. Something really needed to be done to design a safer place for younger users.”

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Although there isn’t a confirmed launch date, Tribela is due to launch sometime in January 2026. In the meantime, users can get early access by signing up to become Beta testers.

Despite its efforts to become a platform solely for teenagers, there isn’t a maximum age limit, as stated in the terms. However, users must be at least 13 years old to use the app with parental approval and supervision.

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