Gratitude Plus makes social networking positive, private and personal | TechCrunch

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the comeback of private social networking, focusing on a startup called Gratitude Plus that aims to shift social media in a more positive direction. Gratitude Plus is expanding its wellness-focused, personal reflections journal to include support for families who want to stay in touch even when physically distant.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Private Social Networking and Gratitude Plus

1. What is the core offering of Gratitude Plus?

• Gratitude Plus is a startup that offers a gratitude journal and a platform for private social networking, focused on promoting wellness and maintaining relationships.

2. How does Gratitude Plus differentiate itself from larger social networks?

• Gratitude Plus encourages users to establish healthier relationships and better mental wellness habits by offering a space for journaling, mood tracking, and staying in touch with family and friends through small, private "circles" within its app.
• Unlike traditional social media, Gratitude Plus is not meant to be used with a wide audience, but rather with a smaller, more intimate group of people.

3. What are some key features of the Gratitude Plus app?

• The app prompts users to journal by asking simple questions like "List three things you're grateful for today", which can then be shared with a private group.
• The app also has a community feed where users can anonymously share their feelings and interact with others by leaving hearts or messages of support.
• Gratitude Plus encourages daily habits with features like push notifications and streaks.

4. What inspired the founder, Daniel Shaffer, to create Gratitude Plus?

• Shaffer was inspired to build Gratitude Plus after his mother's passing, as he sought out more accessible mental health tools and wanted to create a platform that would allow people to stay in touch in a more positive and personal way than traditional social media.

[02] Gratitude Plus Family Plan and Future Plans

1. What is the new family plan being launched by Gratitude Plus?

• Gratitude Plus is launching a family plan on Mother's Day, where up to four members can share a premium subscription for $74.99 per year.

2. What are Gratitude Plus's plans for the future?

• Shaffer plans to add more mental wellness tools to the app, such as meditation and breath work, to further expand the platform's offerings.