Meet Neptune, a TikTok alternative where creators can hide likes and follower counts

Tech Crunch - Apr 14th, 2025
Open on Tech Crunch

Neptune, a new short-form video app founded by Ashley Darling, is set to launch on the App Store next week, with a Google Play release planned in about six months. The app, currently in beta with hundreds of thousands on its waitlist, seeks to differentiate itself from TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts by focusing on creativity over follower count. Neptune's features include an optional "ghost metrics" setting to hide followers and likes, a content-focused algorithm, and unique user engagement tools like "Hop Back."

The introduction of Neptune comes amid uncertainties surrounding TikTok's future, aiming to attract creators seeking alternative revenue streams and less pressure from follower metrics. With plans to offer monetization options like tips and subscriptions, Neptune emphasizes genuine content connections over corporate-driven algorithms. This approach is significant for micro-influencers often overshadowed by larger accounts on other platforms. While still developing features like livestreaming and music integration, Neptune promises a refreshing focus on creativity and community in the social media landscape.

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RATING

7.0
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides an informative overview of Neptune, a new short-form video app, emphasizing its innovative features and potential market position. It effectively highlights Neptune's focus on creativity and user empowerment, appealing to audiences disillusioned with mainstream social media platforms. However, the article would benefit from a more balanced perspective, including insights from external sources and potential challenges Neptune might face. While the article is timely and engaging, its impact is limited by the lack of critical analysis and external validation. Overall, the story is clear and accessible, making it a useful introduction to Neptune for readers interested in social media innovation.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The article presents a generally accurate depiction of Neptune as a new entrant in the short-form video app market. It correctly identifies Neptune's positioning against established platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. The claims about the app being in beta, the user interest, and the planned launch on the App Store and Google Play Store are consistent with typical practices for tech startups. However, specific numbers, such as the 970 testers and 400,000 waitlist users, would benefit from external verification to confirm their accuracy. The description of Neptune's features, like the 'ghost metrics' and 'Hop Back,' is detailed, but the article could enhance its precision by providing more technical details on how these features function.

7
Balance

The article primarily presents the perspective of Neptune and its founder, Ashley Darling, focusing on the app's potential benefits and innovative features. While it provides a positive view of Neptune's approach to social media, it lacks counterpoints or perspectives from industry analysts or competitors that could offer a more balanced view. The narrative is heavily weighted towards the aspirations and claims of Neptune's team, which might lead to an overly optimistic portrayal without acknowledging potential challenges or criticisms.

8
Clarity

The article is clearly written, with a logical structure that guides the reader through Neptune's features and aspirations. The language is straightforward and accessible, making it easy for readers to understand the key points. However, some technical details about the app's functionality and algorithm could be explained more thoroughly to enhance comprehension for readers unfamiliar with tech industry jargon.

6
Source quality

The article relies heavily on statements from Neptune's founder and chief marketing officer, which are credible but inherently biased towards promoting the app. There is a lack of independent sources or expert commentary that could corroborate the claims made by the company. Including insights from industry analysts or third-party tech journalists would enhance the source quality by providing a broader perspective on Neptune's market potential and challenges.

6
Transparency

The article provides some transparency regarding its sources, quoting Neptune's founder and marketing officer directly. However, it lacks detailed context about the methodology behind the app's features and the company's strategy. The absence of external validation for the user numbers and specific launch timelines also affects transparency. Greater disclosure of how the information was gathered and any potential conflicts of interest would improve the article's transparency.

Sources

  1. https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/14/meet-neptune-a-tiktok-alternative-where-creators-can-hide-likes-and-follower-counts/
  2. https://www.tiktok.com/@theneptuneapp/video/7448354110945922346
  3. https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-sign-up-for-the-next-tiktok-and-why-you-should-do-it-right-away/
  4. https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/feature/TikTok-alternatives-to-check-out
  5. https://theneptuneapp.com