Roost Nears 300,000 Users in 5 Weeks as Bird-Delivered Messages Tap Slow-Tech Demand
Updated
Updated · TechCrunch · Jul 8
Roost Nears 300,000 Users in 5 Weeks as Bird-Delivered Messages Tap Slow-Tech Demand
1 articles · Updated · TechCrunch · Jul 8
Summary
Nearly 300,000 users have joined Roost about five weeks after it had a niche following, with growth accelerating from 10,000 to 100,000 in three days after a viral Threads post.
Virtual birds, snails and turtles deliver messages at real-world speeds, turning delays of hours or days into the app’s core appeal for users tired of constant notifications and instant replies.
Logan Mendelsohn, who built Roost as a side project, has made city-level location sharing the default and limited features like photo sharing while adding warnings for its anonymous Pen Pals mode.
User backlash over AI-generated bird art has pushed the unfunded solo founder to launch an artist contest, highlighting broader tension between AI-assisted app building and consumer resistance to AI imagery.