A New Home for the Quotev Souls
A Letter From Me (The Founder)
Hello,
I’m a university student — and like many of you, I grew up in online spaces that felt like home. Places like Quotev helped me heal, create, connect, and simply be.
Now? They’re gone, changed, or empty.
So I’m building something for us — not for likes, not for profit.
I’ve uninstalled every social app. I’m tired of surveillance, shallow scrolls, and cold algorithms. I just want a cozy space where people can be real again.
That’s what this is. And even if no one knows my name, I hope you’ll feel it’s yours too.
Who We Are (No Names, Just Vision)
We’re a small team of students and developers raised by the internet.
Quotev, Pictochat, early Tumblr, forums with glitter GIFs — that’s our legacy.
We’re building something:
Private
Drama-safe
Customizable
Community-first
We’re not here for clout or chaos. We’re building comfort — slowly, quietly, and with care.
Right now, this is underground. Anonymous. Soft-launch. But it’s real. And it’s growing.
How It’s Being Built
We’re doing this from scratch — learning, failing, fixing, and refining as we go.
We use every free tool, credit, and grant we can find
Hosting is fully funded by our team
No ads. No data selling. No shady APIs
We’re not chasing virality
You help shape it through feedback
Until we need to grow, it stays no-ask, no-spam, no-corporate
The Real Cost of Cozy
It’s not just HTML and dreams. Here’s a basic breakdown:
| Cost Area | Monthly Estimation (USD) |
|---|---|
| Servers & Hosting | $30–$80 |
| Domain Name (yearly) | $10–$15 |
| Storage (Cloud, Backups) | $10–$25 |
| Moderation (Manual/API) | $0–$50 |
| Emails / Auth APIs | $5–$20 |
| Misc (tools, bugs, legal) | $10+ |
I don’t want to gatekeep — but I also don’t want to go broke building your next favorite safe space. These costs are small at first — but as the community grows, they rise. That’s the real price of building something meaningful without selling your soul.
How You Can Help (Without Spending a Dime)
Fill out the feedback form
Share it with your friends who miss the old internet
Leave kind comments — it really helps after long nights coding
Uplift others who are dreaming too
Stick around. That’s the biggest support of all.
Your encouragement is fuel.
Your kindness is code.
Your presence is what makes this real.
Why We’ll Stay Different
No ads
No algorithm traps
No popularity contests
No data harvesting
No chasing virality
You’re not data here. You’re a person. Just people, pixels, and peace.
Support Later — Not Now
We’re not asking for funds to start. We’re asking for belief. The rest comes later.
Right now, this is self-funded.
If it grows, we might open soft options like:
Tip jars
Supporter-only themes
Feedback priority queues
No paywalls. No “premium friends.” Just real support for a real space.
Why It Won’t Vanish Like the Others
We know the story:
“I’m making a new site!”
...then silence.
But we’re not doing this for hype.
We’re not here for launches and headlines.
We’re underground until we’re strong enough to surface.
This isn’t the end of cozy.
It’s just the restart.
For every soul that missed their internet home —
We’re building a new one. Quietly. Gently. Together.
Features & Other Updates
This document outlines the intended core features and guiding principles for the initial version of the platform, with a focus on fostering creative self-expression, curated social interaction, and privacy-aware communication.
What to Expect
Intimate self-expression through text, images, and short thoughts
Curated connection—you choose who sees what
Private communication with layers of messaging for both close and anonymous interactions
Customizable profiles with full HTML/CSS freedom (layout locking optional)
A feed that feels personal, not performative
Thoughtful privacy controls at every step
A nostalgic digital atmosphere inspired by softer corners of the web
Core Features
Feed & Content Sharing
A chronological feed displaying updates from accounts a user follows.
Two primary content formats:
Posts: Image-based or multimedia entries with optional captions.
Thoughts: Short-form textual updates akin to microblogging.
Journals: Markdown-supported, long-form entries intended for deeper writing or personal archiving.
Privacy controls per post/journal entry (public, private, or mutuals-only).
Sensitive content toggle for posts (content warning / blur options).
Rich-text editing tools with font size, style, and color options (accessible palette only).
Profiles & Account Safety
Customizable user profiles with support for layout tweaks using basic HTML/CSS (toggled off for accessibility).
Profile visibility options: public, private, or limited view based on connection level.
Optional display fields for personal interests, affiliations, and current mood.
Age gate via birthdate input to regulate interactions between minors and adults.
“Followers” model with approval required (no default public follows).
Account creation with minimal required info (email optional or invite-based).
Username and display name separation.
Blocking, muting, and soft-block features.
Report system routed to human moderators.
Messaging
A multi-tiered messaging system:
Direct Messaging: Private messages between mutuals, with markdown formatting and media attachments supported in future updates.
Inbox: A universal message board with markdown formatting, akin to asynchronous email for all users.
Anonymous Mail: Opt-in system where users can receive anonymous notes from non-mutuals (anti-harassment filters in place).
Community & Social Features
Group-style chats organized around shared interests (private and invite-only at launch).
Lightweight interaction features (non-numeric reactions or feedback tools).
Selective visibility of social connections or posts to curated circles.
Accessibility, Media & Management
Toggleable animation/movement settings (GIFs, profile decor).
High-contrast theme option for enhanced readability.
Optional dyslexia-friendly font rendering.
Text styling overrides (to remove user-added fonts/colors).
Embedded image hosting with alt-text and caption support.
Optional content filter for sensitive images or themes.
Audio and video support to be evaluated post-beta.