Gravvity App, Social Media Wellbeing and Accessibility

Author: Ian C. Langtree - View Credentials
Published: 5 May 2021 - Updated: 4 Nov 2026
Publication Type: Announcement / Notification

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This information describes Gravvity, a chat and social media hub launched in 2021 that combined messaging with a single time-ordered feed from other networks, removed public likes and follower counts, and offered users control of their data and a share of ad revenue. It sets the app in the wider context of social media and mental health, and of access to technology for people with disabilities, citing a 2021 Pew Research Center survey. It also gives practical checks for choosing accessible social and chat apps, useful for disabled people, seniors, caregivers and anyone wanting a healthier relationship with social media.

At a Glance

1 - Gravvity let friends react to posts privately through chat.
2 - The app showed posts in time order rather than through advertising algorithms.
3 - Adults with disabilities were three times as likely to never go online in 2021.
4 - Smartphone ownership was 72 percent among adults with a disability, compared with 88 percent of other adults.

Topic Definition

Social Media Fatigue: Social media fatigue is a feeling of mental tiredness, overload or stress that comes from heavy or constant use of social networking sites and apps. It can result from information overload, pressure to respond or perform for an audience, comparison with others and privacy worries, and it often leads people to cut back, take breaks or leave platforms altogether.

Overview

Gravvity was a chat and social media app launched in 2021 that pulled a user's social feeds into one place and removed public likes and follower counts, in response to growing concern about social media and mental health. This article describes what the app set out to do and looks at what people with disabilities should consider when choosing social and messaging apps.

Why Gravvity Was Created

Social media is technology that lets people share ideas, news and personal updates through online networks and communities, and billions of people use it to stay in touch. Its constant pull has also raised concerns about stress, distraction and the pressure of public approval. Gravvity's founders said they designed the app with mental health in mind, aiming to cut the clutter and noise that can lead to social fatigue.

What the App Offered

At launch, Gravvity described itself as a full chat app with a built-in social media hub. Its main features, as described by the company in 2021, were:

Instant messaging, voice and video calls with close contacts.
A single feed showing posts from a user's other social accounts, ordered by time rather than by advertising algorithms.
No public like counts, comment counts or follower numbers; friends could react privately through chat instead.
A personal data wallet that users controlled, with the choice to keep data private or share it with selected businesses for offers.
An option to see ads in exchange for a 50/50 share of the advertising revenue.

The app was created during the pandemic by a team led by co-founders Jerry Chien (chief executive), Jason Herrington (chief product officer) and Anja Vukovic (chief operating officer). Readers should check whether it is still offered before looking for it, as small apps often change or close.

For many disabled people, online networks are a lifeline for friendship, advice and advocacy, especially when getting out is hard. Yet access to the technology is uneven. In a 2021 survey, 72 percent of U.S. adults with a disability owned a smartphone, compared with 88 percent of those without a disability, and 62 percent owned a desktop or laptop computer, compared with 81 percent. Adults with disabilities were three times as likely to say they never go online, 15 percent compared with 5 percent [Pew Research Center, 2021]. Pew found these gaps in device ownership even as similar shares had home broadband or a tablet.

Online communities built around disability, such as disability chat rooms and forums, can reduce isolation, while older users may need extra help when getting started with social media.

Before settling on any social or messaging app, it helps to check:

Whether it works with screen readers, voice control, switch access and the phone's text size and contrast settings.
Whether videos can be captioned and images can carry alt text descriptions.
How easy it is to mute, block and report abusive users.
What personal data the app collects and who it is shared with.
Whether features such as endless scrolling or public counts can be limited or turned off.

Anyone who finds that social media is harming their mood or sleep can set time limits, turn off notifications, or talk with a health professional for support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gravvity still available?

Availability can change. Check the app stores or the company's website for the current status before trying to download it.

Use your device's accessibility settings such as screen readers, larger text, voice control and captions, and look for apps that support them.

Alt text is a short written description added to an image so people using screen readers can understand it.

It can, by connecting people with friends and peer communities, though in-person contact and support remain important.

Use built-in screen time tools, turn off nonessential notifications, remove apps from the home screen and set phone-free times.

What should I look for in an app's privacy settings?

Check what data is collected, who it is shared with, who can see your posts and contact you, and how to delete your account.

Why do people with disabilities own fewer devices?

Lower average incomes, the cost of devices and assistive technology, and inaccessible products all contribute to the gap.

Where can I get help if online harassment is affecting me?

Report and block the abuser, save evidence, contact the platform, and seek support from trusted people or a counselor. Threats should be reported to police.

References

Pew Research Center. (2021, September 10). Americans with disabilities less likely than those without to own some digital devices.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: Social media can be a vital link to friends, information and advocacy for people with disabilities, especially when leaving home is difficult, but the same platforms can also feed stress, comparison and harassment. Apps like Gravvity tried to remove some of the pressure by hiding public counts and putting users in charge of their feeds and data. Whatever app people choose, accessibility features, good privacy controls and simple ways to block and report abuse matter as much as any new design idea, and closing gaps in device ownership remains part of the challenge.

Author Credentials: Ian C. Langtree is a writer, editor, and the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, which he established in 2004 as one of the longest-running independent resources for disability news and information. Over more than two decades, he has written and edited thousands of articles on disability rights, health, accessibility, and assistive technology. Drawing on a global perspective shaped by extensive travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed advocate of the Social Model of Disability, the framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that focuses on removing societal barriers rather than on individual impairments. His writing is grounded in that framework and in a lasting commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.