---
title: Gen Z Is Sick of Social Media, Series Thinks It Has The Solution
description: Series uses AI to facilitate introductions through iMessage as young users reject performative posting and seek genuine connections.
author: Darie Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
date: 2025-12-22T13:53:13.000Z
updated: 2026-02-26T15:30:59.543Z
canonical: https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/gen-z-is-sick-of-social-media-series-thinks-it-has-the-solution
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/Series_Product.webp
categories: Social Impact
content_type: Feature
region: United States
publication: Sovereign Magazine
about:
  - type: Organization
    name: Series
    description: "Series is the social platform redefining student connection through AI and robotics. Series is building technology that bridges the digital and physical campus experience for Gen Z.\n\nSeries operates directly in iMessage, calls, and other messaging platforms., and makes introductions based on users’ warm networks. Series has processed over 700,000 messages to date and aims to build the largest and most accessible warm network – starting with student entrepreneurs. Series is hiring for a number of roles. Please visit https://series.so/ for more information or follow via LinkedIn ."
    url: https://series.so/
    sameAs:
      - https://www.linkedin.com/company/joinseries/
---

A generation raised on social media is reaching the same conclusion: the platforms they grew up with are no longer serving them. Instagram, Facebook and their counterparts prioritise public feeds, follower counts and the relentless pressure to curate a perfect online persona. The result is fatigue, anxiety and a growing desire to disconnect. Research conducted between 2023 and 2025 found that three in four Gen Z users blame social media for their declining mental health. Nearly two-thirds wish they could reset their experience entirely. The constant performance, the highlight reels and the competition for likes have turned social networking into a source of stress rather than connection.

## Private Messaging Takes Over

As users step back from public feeds, they are turning to private messaging platforms like WhatsApp, iMessage and Discord. These apps, once reserved for casual conversations, have become hubs for community-building, professional networking and intimate sharing. WhatsApp now has three billion monthly active users, while iMessage holds a 29% market share in the US. Discord, initially popular amongst gamers, has expanded to 200 million users, with AI-driven features boosting engagement. The message is clear: people want interactions that feel genuine, not performative.

This reflects a demand for authenticity. Users are tired of curating their lives for an audience and seek spaces where they can share their thoughts without fear of judgement. This move towards [algorithm-free communities](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/algorithm-free-communities-business-implications-for-creators-and-brands) represents a fundamental change in how people want to connect online. [Series](#about-series), an AI-powered social network, is responding to this demand by rethinking how we connect online.

## A New Approach to Social Networking

Series was founded by Yale students Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow, who started a podcast called The Founder Series to interview entrepreneurs. Through their conversations, they noticed a pattern: people were exhausted by the pressure to perform online. They wanted a platform that prioritised [real connections](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/real-conversations-real-impact-shaping-the-next-generation-of-leaders) over vanity metrics like followers and likes. So they built one.

Unlike traditional social networks, Series operates entirely within iMessage, eliminating feeds, followers and the anxiety of public posting. Users send customisable messages to a curated list of contacts, with AI-driven ‘Friends’ facilitating introductions based on shared interests or goals. The platform’s name reflects its sequential approach. Each message is designed to reach the right people at the right time, fostering conversations that matter. The company has even made headlines with marketing strategies [that capture the attention](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/series-16-000-robot-cmo-generated-1m-views-in-24-hours-that-might-actually-be-genius) of their target demographic.

‘Series emerged from the limitations of existing social platforms,’ says Johnson. ‘We’re all used to a feed where we present the best version of ourselves. But that rarely allows us to communicate our true thoughts, mainly because of the stigma of posting online. Series solves this by curating each interaction to feel intimate and personal, something we couldn’t do before.’

## AI as the Connector

Series is not the only platform using AI to facilitate meaningful connections, but its approach differs from competitors. While traditional networks optimise for engagement metrics like likes and shares, Series focuses on creating the right connections at the right time. Its AI ‘Friends’ work within iMessage to make warm, double opt-in introductions, ensuring interactions are intentional and mutually beneficial.

Other platforms are taking similar approaches. Lunchclub uses AI to facilitate professional networking, while Marshmallow organises offsite meetups. Similarly, new [networking platforms](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/startup-rooom-brings-innovation-at-the-heart-of-networking) are changing how entrepreneurs and professionals connect. Even Meta is integrating AI into its platforms to blend traditional social networking with immersive experiences. However, Series distinguishes itself by operating within existing messaging apps, removing the need to download yet another platform.

Since its launch, Series has exchanged over one million messages and reached 10,000 daily active users, all without a public feed. Users have reported real-world outcomes, from hiring videographers to co-founding businesses and even meeting in person in cities like Amsterdam. These are not just online interactions; they are connections that extend into everyday life.

## The Future of Social Networking

The move towards private, intimate sharing is not a passing trend but a fundamental rethink of what social networking should be. Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, has acknowledged this movement away from public posting. In a 2025 interview, Mosseri noted that users are increasingly retreating to direct messages and closed groups, forcing platforms like Instagram to adapt. ‘The future is private,’ Mark Zuckerberg declared years ago, and his prediction is now unfolding.

Series is driving this change, but it is not alone. The success of platforms like Discord and WhatsApp shows that users are hungry for alternatives to traditional social media. Even [Meta’s newer social platforms](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/threads-meta-s-new-social-media-platform-takes-flight-challenging-twitter-s-reign) are experimenting with different approaches to user engagement. Series differs in its focus on intentionality. By removing the pressure to perform and replacing it with curated, meaningful interactions, the platform is changing how we connect online.

## What Lies Ahead

With $5.1 million in funding and a feature on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, Series is expanding. What began as a college-first platform is now growing nationwide. Johnson and Hargrow’s vision is to build the largest accessible warm network, starting with niche communities like student entrepreneurs and expanding to other sectors.

Their timing is opportune. As users continue to seek alternatives to performative posting, platforms like Series are meeting the demand. Real conversations and authentic connections matter in professional and personal development. Private, intentional networking is not just a trend; it is the future of social networking.

For a generation raised on social media but exhausted by its demands, Series offers something different: connection without performance and community without curation.

**About Series**

Series is the social platform redefining student connection through AI and robotics. Series is building technology that bridges the digital and physical campus experience for Gen Z.

Series operates directly in iMessage, calls, and other messaging platforms., and makes introductions based on users’ warm networks. Series has processed over 700,000 messages to date and aims to build the largest and most accessible warm network – starting with student entrepreneurs. Series is hiring for a number of roles. Please visit https://series.so/ for more information or follow via LinkedIn .

[Website](https://series.so/)