Imagine a social media platform that's not designed to keep you hooked for hours on end, but instead encourages you to log off and engage with the world around you. Welcome to seven39, a new experimental social media site that's taking a bold step away from the attention economy. For just three hours every evening, users can access the platform, which boasts a retro aesthetic reminiscent of the early 2000s internet.

The brainchild of creator Mark Lyons, seven39 is an intentional departure from the endless scrolling and algorithm-driven feeds that dominate modern social media. With a single chronological feed, a 200-character limit, and no ads, the platform is designed to foster genuine connections and community building. Users can post updates, share images, and engage with others, all within a finite window of time.

The three-hour window, which runs from 7:39 PM to 10:39 PM ET, is a deliberate choice, intended to recreate the sense of anticipation and excitement that came with logging on to the internet after school in the pre-smartphone era. Lyons hopes to explore whether there's a better way to be social online, one that prioritizes human connection over endless engagement.

So far, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Users have praised the platform's cozy atmosphere, with many expressing a sense of nostalgia for the early days of the internet. The community is small but engaged, with users recognizing and interacting with each other by their handles. While the site still has its quirks, with occasional bugs and a lack of polish, Lyons is committed to iterating and improving the experience based on user feedback.

However, the biggest challenge facing seven39 is sustainability. With a small user base and limited features, the platform risks becoming stale or losing users' interest. Lyons acknowledges that building new habits is hard, and that the site's success depends on finding ways to keep users engaged and attract new ones. Content moderation is also a concern, with users already questioning whether to post political or NSFW content.

Despite these challenges, Lyons remains committed to his vision, seeing seven39 as an experiment in redefining social media. He's open to the possibility that the platform may not scale or become a viable business, but believes that the effort is worth it if it sparks a conversation about the role of social media in our lives. As he puts it, "Maybe I will find out that this is just a cool idea and project, but not a viable business. But I'm trying to build it more from the principle of, if we're going to do social media as a society, maybe we should figure out a way to do it less."

Seven39 may not be for everyone, but it's an intriguing alternative to the dominant social media landscape. As users increasingly express fatigue with the endless noise and commercialization of traditional platforms, seven39 offers a refreshing respite. Whether it will succeed in the long term remains to be seen, but for now, it's a fascinating experiment in reimagining the possibilities of online interaction.