HyperTexting is a new iOS app launched by tech veteran Caleb Hailey, designed to reshape how people interact with the web by blending traditional websites with the familiar format of social media feeds. The app transforms the open web, including blogs, newsletters, podcasts, and news sites, into a scrollable feed that users can follow and engage with much like Facebook or X. It also simplifies the process of publishing content to personal websites, aiming to revive the early internet ideal where individuals control and create their own online presence.

Hailey's motivation behind HyperTexting stems from his disappointment with current social media platforms, particularly Twitter’s shift away from a reverse chronological timeline to an algorithm-driven feed, which he feels has diminished user discovery and link visibility. His experience uninstalling social apps and returning to RSS feed readers inspired him to build a more accessible and engaging way to consume web content without algorithms. HyperTexting leverages RSS technology beneath its interface but packages it in a friendly, social-media-like experience to attract broader audiences who are used to effortless scrolling.

Beyond content consumption, HyperTexting encourages active participation by enabling users to post on their own websites—be it WordPress, Ghost newsletters, or sites built with tools like Hugo or HyperTexting's own HyperTemplates. Contributions made on individual sites can then appear in followers’ feeds, creating a decentralized conversation that exists independent of centralized social media platforms. The app also features an “Explore” section highlighting trending online content and offers an optional Safari extension to add new sites seamlessly while browsing.

Hailey envisions HyperTexting as a step towards revitalizing the open web as the largest and most democratic social network, contrasting it with today's dominant social media platforms and federated alternatives. Developed through Hailey’s company Herd Works, the app is free to download with plans for potential premium subscriptions or limited advertising to sustain it. HyperTexting’s launch represents a modern attempt to merge the openness of the web with the ease and engagement of social media, offering users a new way to discover, follow, and contribute to web content on their own terms.