Key facts
- HyperTexting is a new iOS app designed to present the open web as a scrollable social media-like feed.
- The app allows users to follow websites, news outlets, blogs, and newsletters.
- Content from followed sources is displayed in a familiar feed format, including articles, essays, and multimedia posts.
- Users can also publish content to their own websites, which will then appear in the feeds of their followers.
- The app includes an 'Explore' section for trending web content and a Safari extension for easy website following.
HyperTexting, a new application available on iOS, aims to transform the internet browsing experience by presenting the open web in a format akin to social media feeds. The app, developed by Caleb Hailey, a 20-year veteran of the tech industry, allows users to follow various online content sources, including personal websites, news outlets, blogs, and newsletters. These sources are then aggregated into a single, scrollable feed, reminiscent of platforms like X or Facebook.
Hailey's vision for HyperTexting is rooted in a desire to return to the early internet's promise of individual web publishing and ownership, a concept he feels has been overshadowed by the rise of social media. He noted that social media platforms made it easier to create and post content than maintaining a personal website, leading to a shift in user behavior and interface norms.