How the Platform Began With Real Human Insight
In January 2023, Karl A. L. Smith began work on a set of ideas originally called Circles, which later evolved into All me. The starting point wasn’t code, features, or architecture. It was a simple question:
What is fundamentally wrong with social media, and what do people actually need instead?
To answer that, the first phase of development focused on quantitative research at global scale. Through white‑label engagement, around 100,000 participants worldwide contributed behavioural and attitudinal data. This early work wasn’t about validating a product idea it was about discovering the human truths that modern social platforms have ignored.
Several core themes emerged, and these became the foundation of All me.
The Human Realities Social Media Has Ignored
- People are multifaceted
No one wants a single, blended audience. People need separate social groups that reflect different parts of their identity. - People will pay for privacy
But they dislike large, one‑off payments. They prefer small, predictable contributions that feel fair and respectful. - People feel safe when they can relate to their environment
Familiarity and relevance matter more than algorithmic feeds. - People miss distraction‑free interaction
They want to engage with friends without noise, manipulation, or engineered engagement loops. - People are angry about advertising overload
Ads have become intrusive, constant, and emotionally exhausting. - People feel unsafe because platforms don’t teach them how to be safe
Users don’t know how to protect themselves, and platforms don’t help them.
These insights weren’t regional or demographic quirks. They were consistent across the entire dataset a global signal that social media has drifted far from serving human needs.
From Quantitative Patterns to Qualitative Depth
Once the large‑scale patterns were clear, the next step was qualitative research. This phase explored why people felt this way and how they wanted their digital social lives to function.
Through interviews, behavioural mapping, and ecosystem analysis, several natural starting communities emerged. These weren’t based on nationality or flags people are globally dispersed, and country‑based grouping doesn’t reflect real social identity. Instead, the strongest ecosystems were built around shared practice and culture:
- Musicians
- Sports communities
- Gamers
- Cultural groups
These groups demonstrated clear internal cohesion, strong identity, and a desire for private, meaningful interaction exactly the kind of environments All me is designed to support.
Why This Research Still Shapes All me Today
The early research continues to guide every part of the platform:
- How groups are formed
- How privacy is structured
- How safety is taught
- How distraction is removed
- How communities grow without surveillance or advertising
All me is not a reaction to trends. It is a platform built from listening — from understanding what people actually need to feel safe, connected, and in control.
This research is the reason All me feels different. It’s not social media redesigned. It’s social life rebuilt.
