The no-algorithm social network.
On irl.ing, no algorithm decides what you see. You see your friends’ loops, and the categories you chose, in the order they were posted. Then it ends: “You’re caught up.”
Here’s what a ranked feed does, what a feed without one is, and how irl.ing works without one.
Make a loopWhat a ranked feed does
Many social apps rank their feeds. A program chooses the order for you, from what it predicts will keep you watching, liking or sharing. It can push posts from people you follow down, and mix in posts from accounts you don’t follow.
A ranked feed can go on for as long as you scroll, because there’s always something else to rank.
What a no-algorithm feed is
A no-algorithm feed, also called a chronological feed, shows what the people you chose posted, in the order they posted it. Nothing is boosted, buried or slipped in. When you’ve seen it all, it stops.
No algorithm doesn’t mean no software. irl.ing still sorts loops by time, keeps friends-only loops between friends, and checks shared loops against the community rules. None of that decides what deserves your attention.
How irl.ing works without one
- Time order. Your feed is loops from your friends, and businesses you follow, newest first.
- It ends. When you’ve seen everything, the feed says “You’re caught up.” Nothing new is pulled in to keep you there.
- Friends first. Each loop is Just friends or Public, and you can change it any time. Strangers’ loops are never in your feed.
- Categories you choose. A loop can have up to three. Anyone can search them, start one or follow one, and a category’s loops are newest first too.
- Your numbers are yours. No follower counts for people. A loop’s play count goes to its maker, and to others only if the maker chooses to show it. Feelings instead of likes, with small counts between friends.
- Labels, not beauty filters. Every look or effect on a loop is labelled on it. Each loop’s Real Seal is signed on the phone that made it, so edits show.
- Short on purpose. A loop is up to 11.11 seconds, recorded in the browser on your phone or computer, or up to 140 characters of text that irl.ing animates.
What irl.ing doesn’t do
- Rank your feed by what it predicts you’ll watch.
- Slip strangers’ posts into your feed.
- Scroll forever. The feed ends.
- Show follower counts for people.
- Offer beauty filters.
Questions
What is a no-algorithm social network?
A social network where no ranking algorithm picks what you see. You see what the people and topics you chose posted, in the order they posted it, and the feed ends when you’ve seen it all. irl.ing is one.
Is irl.ing a social network?
Yes. You make an @name, add friends, and share loops with them, or with everyone: videos up to 11.11 seconds, or up to 140 characters of text that irl.ing animates. Friends react with feelings, comment and send each other video messages, and anyone can follow categories and businesses. Pictures are coming soon.
Does irl.ing use any algorithm at all?
Not to decide what you see. Software sorts loops by time, keeps friends-only loops between friends, and checks shared loops against the community rules. Nothing is ranked by what it predicts you’ll watch.
How do I find new things without an algorithm?
Through friends and categories. Search categories, start one or follow one, and each category shows its loops newest first. Discover shows the newest public loops.
Is a no-algorithm feed the same as a chronological feed?
Close. A chronological feed is in time order. irl.ing’s is in time order, only from people you chose, and it ends: “You’re caught up.”
Is irl.ing free?
Yes. It runs in the browser on your phone or computer, and you can install it from the browser. There’s no app-store app yet.
Read on
- How irl.ing works: hold to record, and the tech underneath in plain names.
- BeReal alternatives, side by side: BeReal, Lapse, Locket, Retro and irl.ing.
Hold to record. Let go to pause.
Up to 11.11 seconds, then it loops. Your friends see it in a feed that ends.
Make a loop