(We recognize the irony of our request, but, after you sign, please post this to your social media accounts and encourage others to sign.)

Gen Z, which makes up about 30% of the world's population, is suffering. Sometime during their youth, most Gen Zers gained access to smartphones (aka, irresistible portals into the minds and personal worlds of billions of people around the globe).

Now 12 to 27 years old, many Gen Zers are tethered to a never-ending supply of beautiful sunsets, animal videos, and amusing memes. If only that were all. They're also subject to: 

• Online bullying, harassment, and exclusion
• Untenable beauty and lifestyle standards
• Dangerous dare-challenges
• Misinformation, misrepresentation, and fake news
• Confident ignorance
• Irresponsible use of their personal data
• The worst of the world's bad news

A couple of stats:  More than 50% of Gen Z spend 4.5+ hours on social media each day. Unfortunately, frequent, prolonged exposure to social media's content and delivery formats is now linked to shocking levels of depression, anxiety, loneliness and even suicide.

Gen Z is increasingly aware of this connection but 79% say they can't live without their smart phone and that social media is a social necessity. 

SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT GOING AWAY.

The safety and well-being of Gen Z is now a global conversation, with governments, NGOs and academia looking for solutions. The Hill, 8/24/23​, CNN.com​, Internet Society Foundation  (Notice we don't include the largest social media companies in this list. Suffice it to say, their primary incentives do not align with their users' well-being.)

As a society, we must get this right!  Right now.  It can't be overstated; the psychological, emotional, and cognitive well-being of Gen Z and all future generations is truly at stake.

But is it even possible to create a social networking utility that is non-harming both in content and design?  Could we dare to imagine a digital tool that connects people in a way that actually uplifts and strengthens humanity?  What if it could wholesomely bond both close friends and remote, unknown people across traditional boundaries?  What if we could imagine all of humanity through a lens of love and mutual support?

It's more than possible.  Using a novel collaborative design and humane tech principles, we are building it now.

Our message to Gen Z (and other generations!):  We are creating a social platform that is all connection, positivity, and love, without everything that takes away your energy and happiness. tgthr allows you to send good feelings to anyone in the world, and see every time someone out there is sending you love and other kinds of goodness. We're making it easier for you to feel good, inspired even, and help others to feel good.  Come and see how much love there actually is in the world.

Why do we need your signature? We are a small company with the right mix of tech, management, and empathy.  Our company, Soulingo, LLC, is a social enterprise with the two-fold mission of uplifting humanity with an enlightened view of the world and modeling responsible business to our customers, employees, community, environment, and shareholders.  Even before we roll out our minimum viable product (MVP), we are presenting to grant committees and investors. THEY need to see there's a place in the world for social media that solves for well-being. That's what your signature does!

We have just finished building a prototype of the most challenging technical component and hope to release the first version of the app to the world Fall 2024.

Check out our website at tgthr.io to learn more!

Thank you for helping us build a social platform that allows Gen Z and other generations to connect safely and see a beautiful, positive view of humanity!

 -- If you truly care about how legacy social media apps are affecting users' well-being, please post this to your account and encourage your network to support our effort. :-) 

Laurel

tgthr.io​ 
Instagram @better.tgthr