It’s been some time since a social media app has been able to break out as the new digital space to hang out—and potentially do business. The platforms to come closest have been BeReal and Threads, but for now both appear to have fizzled as fast as they’ve risen.

Still, that doesn’t stop app developers from trying.

One new venture looks to give us a good time before it hits the bricks (or sticks around, potentially?). Lapse, a new photo-based app, speaks to a collective thirst for nostalgia—specifically, for the days when we used disposable cameras for preserving memories.

It works like this: You take a photo (a “snap,” the app calls it) that’s sent to the “darkroom” to be developed—just like photos in the good old days. Users wait an unspecified amount of time until they’re alerted their photo is ready, and the pic is served up with a special filter for that true retro look. The photo can then be shared—published to a user’s gallery, to be viewed by their followers—or archived.

A user’s profile (“journal,” per the app’s labeling) can be customized with music, emojis, a zodiac sign, and a carousel of selected images that have been “developed.” If this all seems nostalgic, that’s the idea—though younger generations, the ones with no experience with cameras, are glomming onto Lapse too.

“Huge pressure is placed on capturing and broadcasting ourselves online,” reads a description of Lapse on its website. “Inspired by film photography, Lapse is designed to reclaim how we take and share memories. A camera for living in the moment and a private photo journal for friends, not followers.”

So far Lapse has more than 73,000 reviews on the App Store and close to a five-star rating—a pretty significant achievement that may not promise longevity but shows users are enjoying it.

As with all new apps we cover here, the idea is to familiarize yourself and early-adopt the ones that have potential. Right now, users love Lapse for its lack of advertising and algorithms. But even if that were to never change (which feels pretty impossible if the app sees success and wants to make money), a brand or individual’s presence there could serve to generate awareness. At the very least, you might have a little fun along the way.

(Image via Lapse)

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