Why Strava is the Only Social App That Doesn't Suck

Here's an idea: what if social apps required you to do something real?

That's the key behind Strava, the fitness app that, in my opinion, has become the best social experience in 2025. Other corners of the social spaces I'm exposed to (Instagram, X, Facebook 😏 occasionally) are filled with politics and food photos, and it's become increasingly refreshing and motivating to scroll through my Strava feed.

You can't fake a run when GPS is tracking every step. You can't pretend you climbed that hill when your heart rate data tells the real story. And here's the best part: it doesn't matter if you're crushing miles or pickleball games, tennis matches or hiking trails. Strava tracks everything from climbing to yoga, skiing to strength training. It's social media with a built-in lie detector, and the result is something beautiful: a platform where people actually encourage each other with kudos (Strava's version of a "like") instead of tearing each other down.

Accidentally Brilliant Design

Strava solved social media's biggest problem by accident. Instead of asking users to be clever or beautiful or controversial, it just asks them to move. The app does the rest—automatically turning your sweaty, unglamorous workout into clean data and shareable maps.

No captions to craft, no filters to choose, no anxiety about whether your post is witty enough. Your effort is the content. Your consistency tells the story.

The segment feature is pure genius: it turns every hill, trail, and popular route into a friendly competition. That climb on your regular hiking trail? That tennis court where you play twice a week? You can see exactly how you're improving month by month, and how you stack up against other people who've tackled the same challenges. It's video games for people who prefer fresh air to screens.

Real Life, Real Data

Maybe what I love most is how Strava captures the parts of people's lives they're genuinely proud of. Not their opinions or their possessions, but their commitment to showing up for themselves day after day.

When I see a friend's workout from a rainy Tuesday morning, I learn something meaningful about their character. When someone posts their first post-injury run or their slowest-ever 5K, I'm witnessing actual courage.

That's the social media I want: one that celebrates effort over outcome, consistency over perfection, and the simple act of getting out there and trying. In a world where most platforms make us worse versions of ourselves, Strava does something remarkable - it makes us want to be better.

And all it asks in return is that we go outside and move - why not?