The new Phictly app brings people together through their favorite books and TV shows

In the early days of social media, posting a rant about the latest episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” on MySpace seemed like the ultimate Thursday night activity. One of the best discoveries was discovering a Facebook group called “Team Jacob Forever.”

Nowadays, finding the perfect niche community may seem impossible, but a new social app called Phictly aims to change that.

The app, available on iOS and Android devices, allows users to form clubs centered around their favorite books, TV shows and movies, creating niche communities where people can discuss their specific interests without judgement.

For example, users can dive into clubs for fantasy readings and gossip about Violet and Xaden in Rebecca Yaros’ “The Third Wing,” or reminisce about the early days of “Grey’s Anatomy.”

The app was created by Nyleena Aiken after she started a book club with her sisters and had trouble finding books that interested everyone. I realized that many people would likely face the same challenge and would benefit from a dedicated app to create collections centered around one specific title at a time.

“Looking at our competitors, there are a lot of large groups with little interaction,” Aiken explained to TechCrunch. “Phict keeps discussions focused and fits into everyone’s fast-paced lifestyle, allowing users to fit conversations around their schedules.”

Key features of Phictly include a cap of 20 members per club to keep discussions intimate, and users can also set the pace of their clubs based on their reading or viewing habits. For example, those who enjoy speed reading or binge-watching can create or join clubs that last just a day or two, while those who prefer a slower pace can participate in clubs that last up to 30 days.

Another notable feature allows users to post spoilers while hiding them so others have access to that part of the story. Each spoiler is initially hidden, allowing users to choose when to reveal it, helping everyone stay on the same page. Phictly also includes a “talking points” feature, allowing users to schedule check-ins to discuss specific episodes or chapters and giving everyone the opportunity to join the conversation.

Similar to Goodreads, users can also track what they’re currently reading or watching, log titles, and set personal goals for their reading or viewing habits.

Future updates will introduce a matching system that brings together users based on common interests, favorite genres, TV shows, and popular books. The app will eventually be expanded to include video game-focused clubs.

Phictly is free to download but may soon offer a premium subscription with additional features, such as the ability to create a private profile.