When Bieber Tried to Fix Social Media: How Shots Paved the Way for Apps Like Favs

When Bieber Tried to Fix Social Media: How Shots Paved the Way for Apps Like Favs

In 2013, Justin Bieber did something unexpected—he helped launch a social media app called Shots. Co-founded with the Shahidi brothers, Shots wasn’t trying to compete with Facebook or Twitter. It was a completely different vibe, designed to be a safe, fun place where people could share selfies without all the drama that usually comes with social media.

According to the TechCrunch article from back then, the app was laser-focused on creating a positive space. One big move? No comments. Seriously, they just took the entire concept of public trolling and threw it out the window. You couldn’t criticize someone’s post; you could only like it or share it. For an internet filled with anonymous hate and constant negativity, this felt revolutionary.

And it wasn’t just the features that made Shots stand out. Bieber himself was a driving force. He didn’t just slap his name on the project—he used it. A lot. Posting selfies, engaging with fans, making it feel like an extension of his personal brand. That alone brought in hundreds of thousands of users, mostly teens, who saw the app as a direct way to connect with him.

What’s wild is how ahead of its time Shots really was. The app understood something we’re still dealing with today: social media can be harsh. People don’t always want to post if they know they’ll be judged or dragged. And let’s be honest, we’ve all seen how toxic comments can get.

This is something I think about constantly with Favs. In a way, we’re solving the same problem Shots tried to address, but for a world that’s even more complicated now. Favs is about creating a space that’s just for your real friends—the people who actually care about you. No ads, no influencers, no judgment. Just moments shared with the people who matter.

Shots may not have lasted forever (it was eventually acquired and folded into other projects), but the idea behind it—that social media could be simple, positive, and fun—still resonates. It’s like Shots walked so apps like Favs could run.

Looking back at what Bieber and the Shahidis tried to do, I can’t help but respect it. They wanted to make the internet a little less scary and a lot more personal. That’s a mission we’re still working on today.