tbh
Original author(s)Nikita Bier, Erik Hazzard, Kyle Zaragoza, and Nicolas Ducdodon (Midnight Labs LLC)
Developer(s)Meta Platforms
Initial releaseAugust 3, 2017; 6 years ago (2017-08-03)
Operating systemiOS
SuccessorGas
Size77.7 MB (iOS)
Available inEnglish
LicenseFreeware
Websitetbhtime.com

tbh was an anonymous social media app available in the United States, designed for high school students.[1][2] The app was launched by Nikita Bier, Erik Hazzard, Kyle Zaragoza, and Nicolas Ducdodon in September 2017.[3] Investors included Greylock Partners, Redpoint Ventures, Founders Fund, Semyon Dukach, Bee Partners, Dorm Room Fund, and American investor Wayne Chang.

In October 2017, tbh was ranked #1 in the U.S. App Store, and Meta Platforms (then known as Facebook inc.) subsequently acquired the company for an estimated $100 million.[4] tbh became one of the company's brands, alongside Facebook (app), WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, and Oculus VR.[5] However, on July 2, 2018, Facebook announced that tbh would be discontinued, due to low usage.[6]

In August 2018, Buzzfeed News acquired a confidential memo in which the app's founders explained how they used Instagram to target teenagers at specific schools, playing to their curiosity and timing their messages to take advantage of the end of the school day.[7]

In August 2022, tbh was relaunched as Gas by co-creator Nikita Bier, with the same concept of being an anonymous social media app, in which high school students give each other compliments; this was acquired by Discord in early 2023.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ Calfas, Jennifer (September 17, 2017). "5 Things to Know About 'tbh,' a New Anonymity App Popular Among Teens". Money.com. Money.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Facebook acquires anonymous teen compliment app tbh, will let it run". TechCrunch. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  3. ^ Constine, Josh (22 September 2017). "How tbh hit #1 by turning anonymity positive". TechCrunch. Oath (company). Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  4. ^ Ashley O'Brien, Sara (16 October 2017). "Facebook acquires beloved teen app 'tbh'". CNNMoney. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  5. ^ "WhatsApp is now Facebook's second-biggest property, followed by Messenger and Instagram". recode.net.
  6. ^ Fingas, Jon (2 July 2018). "Facebook shuts down tbh and other apps over 'low usage'". Engadget. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  7. ^ Bridge, Mark (9 August 2018). "Messaging app 'trick' to target teenagers". The Times.
  8. ^ Towey, Hannah. "A new social media app for high schoolers has dethroned TikTok and BeReal in the App Store rankings — and is surprisingly not toxic". Business Insider. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
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