Show HN: Whatcha – social network for digital media

[dropstep]

Hi all! Christian here, creator of Whatcha, the easiest way to discover, track, discuss, and share movies, shows, books, and podcasts. I created Whatcha because I wanted all the information I needed to decide what I should check out next in one place.

If you're like me, you're having multiple conversations with friends on what they're watching, creating watch/read/listen lists on multiple platforms (or just a notes app) that quickly get disorganized, or just have a hard time deciding on what to start next. Whatcha is aiming to solve those problems by bringing everything and everyone together in one place. With the proliferation of media platforms, services, and content, Whatcha has been a great way to organize and share your favorites.

I just launched Whatcha on the Apple app store, with an Android version coming soon. Would appreciate any feedback you have on how I can make Whatcha better and more useful for you. Thanks!

[foodstances]

Installed it from the App Store, went through the signup process, saw that it requires a phone number, tried to register without one, couldn't, and then uninstalled it, all in about 30 seconds.

I cannot even guess why a social network about movies and TV shows requires my phone number, but you surely aren't getting it.

[ThinkBeat]

Thank you. That saves me from having to spend time to figure out the same thing.

I hope soon some technological development will allow VoIP or any virtual type phonenumber to pass as a SIM verified number (or however it is done).

Everyone wanting your phone number is a huge privacy issue and it makes tracing you across platforms is more trivial than it should be.

Which of course is a good part of the reason companies do this.

In Norway, as far as I have figured out, anonymous burner phones is not possible due to laws requirng the buyer to show valid governmnent id that will be registered at the time of purchase.

You can pay someone else to buy it for you, but that has other issues,.

[ericbanter]

Surely providing your phone number ensures you are at least somewhat unique and unless you have access to a plethora of telephone numbers it’s a little more difficult to abuse the system?

[dropstep]

That's valuable feedback. The only thing its used for is to see what of your friends are already on the platform for you to find them and follow them (if you choose to do so and opt in, it is completely optional to take that action). This was actually a feature request from Whatcha's beta users. I think making phone an optional choice overall is a great idea, though.

[e-clinton]

I wouldn’t follow feedback from HN users on things like that too closely. We are a different bunch. Most people won’t think twice to hand over their number and would rather you ask if it means they have a better experience.

[drcongo]

It also only accepts US phone numbers, so now you have a wrong phone number for my account.

[layer8]

I’d be careful about claiming your app is for sharing movies, shows, and books. ;)

[dropstep]

Haha, fair point! For clarification, sharing as in letting your friends know about a movie, show, or book! It definitely might be worth figuring out a way to word that better.

[Fuzzwah]

Recommending?

[dropstep]

Great idea!

[holler]

Congrats on launching! Social media consumption is a hot idea. Did you make that intro video yourself or pay someone to make it? If yourself, curious what you used to make it? Good luck!

[dropstep]

Thank you! I didn't make it myself, but am lucky enough to have a friend who works in video production who did it as a favor. I can ask him what he used to do it, since I don't think it required professional tools from my understanding.

[dropstep]

Adobe premiere pro!

[holler]

ok thank you! It looks solid, great friend! You may want to add your contact info to your HN profile. Good luck!

[nstbayless]

I'm on android, so I can't try it yet. The two things I want to know are:

- Is there a web interface? - Can I add entries if they aren't already in the database?

[dropstep]

There is a web version being built right now, it should be done in the next week or so. If you're still monitoring this, I can comment here when it is, otherwise there is waitlist here to be emailed when it is here: https://www.whatcha.io/join

Right now, you can edit the data on already existing listings, with the ability to add your own coming very soon!

[nstbayless]

awesome! I will put myself on the email list. :)

[morrisct]

This app is incredible, just what I've been looking for!!

[dropstep]

Thanks so much!

[_tom_]

If you just launched, why does the Apple store say "age 9+ years"?

[tristanc]

I’m pretty sure this just means it’s rated as appropriate for ages 9 and up. Had never noticed the ambiguity though...