Sweeble: a photo-sharing app that uses time, not likes, to measure interest

If you’re sick of using ’likes’ as a metric for determining how much your images are being seen, Sweeble, a new photo-sharing app for iOS might be just what you’re looking for. Instead of using the ubiquitous ‘like’, Sweeble instead uses time as the metric of interaction.

The basic premise of the app is not unlike that of Instagram or even 500px’s new iOS app. It’s a blend between a photo sharing site and social network wherein you post photos and video (up to 10 seconds in length) for the world to see. You have your own profiles, a timeline to view the photos of people you are following, and a means to explore and discover new content and people.

The difference lies in the manner in which you receive feedback on the content you share. ‘Likes’ aren’t measured by a simple tap; they’re measured in time. Ever time someone visits your image, a counter adds up the time, showing the total amount of seconds or minutes your content was viewed.

It’s a novel concept overlaid on a fairly standard app design, but it might just be the kind of interaction users are looking for.

If you want to take it for a spin, you can download Sweeble for free in the iOS App Store.