Instagram recently announced their development of a “Friend Map” feature, but at Mobile World Congress, I discovered a startup that takes location sharing to the next level. Swayy is an iPhone app that allows users to share not only their current location but also their next intended location, whether it’s in a few hours, weeks, or months.
Founder Daneh Westropp explained that Swayy eliminates the need for constant coordination with friends via text or calls. Instead, users can inform their followers about their future whereabouts, enabling potential serendipitous meet-ups.
Users can share their future location with curated groups, ranging from family members to work colleagues or the general public within the app. This level of control over who sees your location sets Swayy apart from traditional messaging or calendar apps.
Westropp highlighted that Swayy fosters spontaneity and chance encounters, enhancing social interactions. The app’s focus is currently on building a user base before exploring revenue options like advertising venues for meetups.
A Swayy post
Swayy faces the challenge of building a user base to fulfill its promise of spontaneity. Encouraging more users to join the app can lead to increased chance encounters and social interactions.
The app’s unique approach of focusing on future locations rather than current ones may appeal more to users seeking serendipitous meet-ups in large cities. Unlike Instagram’s location feature, Swayy emphasizes user control over who can see their future location, enhancing privacy and security.
Swayy’s ability to create customized groups for location sharing addresses privacy concerns, appealing to users who value control over their information. Female founder Westropp ensures that precise control over location visibility is a core aspect of the app.
Users can create and join “Sways” to coordinate meet-ups and group chats, further enriching the social experience. Swayy’s curated lists offer a more personalized and privacy-conscious alternative to existing location-sharing features from tech giants like Instagram and Snapchat.
