Local social media site launches app during unusual election season
ZIONSVILLE, Ind. (WISH) — On big political days like Tuesday, you’re probably noticing a flood of political posts on Twitter and Facebook. Some people love it, others hate it. Local entrepreneurs are taking advantage of this unusual controversial election cycle and have created a social media site, called Roust, just for serious topics like politics and religion.
Everyone has those Facebook friends who can’t stop posting about everything Donald Trump says or who live tweets every debate. All the politics can get overwhelming, but now there’s a place specifically for it.
24-Hour News 8 first told you about Roust last year, before the site even got going. The site is now live, and the Zionsville creators just launched an iPhone app.
Roust is designed for conversations about politics, religion, or social issues — things that sometimes get heated on traditional social media. Co-Founder Mark LaFay said with this controversial election season, Roust is gaining users every month, and there has been plenty to discuss.
“We’re definitely not short on topics. That’s for sure. Even last year, when we were launching there was a lot of things to talk about. Before we knew Donald Trump was going to run. There’s always issues in the world to discuss, it just so happens that this political season has stacked up to be overly dramatic maybe — is a good way to describe it,” said LaFay.
Users can join Roust and search for certain topics, post questions, or look at your friends’ posts. If you’re posting about casual topics, like what you had for lunch, then LaFay said prepared to get blocked. Users can block people who aren’t posting about serious issues or who aren’t having meaningful conversations.
“Roust is the only social network that is as valuable to those that use it, as those that don’t. And the reality is, if you want to have those conversations — come to roust. If you don’t want to have those conversations, send everyone else to Roust,” said LaFay.
LaFay said the conversations you find on Roust are generally civil. LaFay said people know what they’re getting into on Roust, and come to really debate the issues instead of just stumbling on political opinions in a Facebook feed. LaFay said on Roust, it’s not just Bernie Sanders Memes or GIFS about Donald Trump. He said the political conversations are different than on other social media sites.
“It’s not necessarily the flame-outs you see on Facebook, because it’s where people go to have an intelligent conversation. You may see something that’s absolutely ridiculous, but usually the conversation doesn’t devolve into namecalling. That’s great and that’s what we wanted. We figured early on if we could set the tone, that when you want to talk about things that matter, come to Roust. Connect with other people. Have those conversations and don’t be worried about being labeled a conservative or a liberal or an idiot. Whatever it might be. because people are there for having these conversations,” said LaFay.
It’s not just people here in Central Indiana joining the site, Roust has users all over the world, even a large group in Australia. LaFay said he hopes the site will soon start bringing in revenue, and eventually he’ll be able to hire people and create a few jobs here in Central Indiana.