If it's too intimate to post on existing social media, IDK why I would post it on yet another website.
You're totally right. That's why I don't want to make another social network. The idea is more like a personal diary with an option for anonymous venting. The key difference: it's private by default, no public profiles, no followers, no post history. Each post is an anonymous island. And there would be a self-destruct option, like 'write and burn'. Just to let go of the weight, no likes, no digital identity. With that kind of extreme privacy, do you think it would make more sense?
Still requires trust that the people running the website won't misuse the data, and keep whatever they keep safe from hackers ...
Yep You're right, trusting a server with personal stuff is the hardest part. For the first version, I'm not doing client-side encryption because I just want to test if the idea works. But to earn trust from day one:
I'll open source everything on GitHub so anyone can check the code.
No email, no name, no signup. Just a text box. No account, no IP linked — so even if there's a leak, the text is anonymous.
A script will wipe everything from the server every few hours. Zero trace.
I know it still takes some faith on the server side, but as a solo dev, I want to start transparent and simple. If people find it useful, I'll add better security later.
Look, that's what a diary is for. In it's original form it's a paper notebook in which the person writes with a pencil. In modern times, people can also use a file or even a software on their computer. No, we don't need websites and webservices for everything, especially when it's intimate. "But what if I want to synchronize ..." I recommend the notebook, it fits in your pocket, it's also cheap and doesn't need electricity. You can use it for drawing, journaling, venting, drafting the next big novel ...
Totally agree, a physical notebook is great, and writing by hand has its own magic that software can't copy. But there's a real difference between writing in a private diary and venting anonymously to the world. When you share something online:
The "letting go" feeling — like throwing a message in a bottle into the ocean. You're actually getting it out of your system and sending it away.
Knowing you're not alone — reading something from a stranger who felt the exact same way hits different. That shared experience is something a blank notebook just can't give you.
I'm not trying to replace paper diaries. I just want to make a digital option for when you feel alone and need to yell into a void where other people quietly listen.
I agree, anonymously talking to others online is different from writing in a diary. But that's not so different than what we can do here with Lemmy (and before it got enshittified, Reddit) - where does your proposed solution differ from that?
That's the whole point and where this is totally different from Reddit or Lemmy.
On those sites, when you post something personal, you're stepping into a social arena. You risk someone cracking a joke, leaving a mean comment, or just making noise. Plus there's the whole dopamine trap — upvotes, downvotes, karma, notifications pulling you back in.
My site is meant to be a sanctuary, not a forum:
No comments — people can read your "message in a bottle," but they can only react with a silent emoji (like a hug). No judgment.
No profiles — you can't click on someone's username to see their past posts. Every post stands alone, totally anonymous.
Optional self-destruct — you can have your post disappear from the server after 24 hours. It's about letting go, not building an archive.
Lemmy is great for debating ideas. This is for when your chest feels heavy and you just need to quiet your mind.
A place for writers to encourage and inspire one another.