Subscribe to our Newsletter
The San Francisco Frontier | Est. 2025
© 2025 dpi Media Group. All rights reserved.

From Teen Apps to Twitter: How Nikita Bier is Reshaping Social Media

Social Media Logos in 3D. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn. Feel free to contact me through email mariia@shalabaieva.com

In the fast-paced world of tech entrepreneurship, Nikita Bier has become a rising star known for creating viral apps that capture the attention of young users. His journey from building teenage social platforms to now leading product development at X (formerly Twitter) is a testament to his unique approach to digital innovation.

Bier’s career began with Politify, a political tax calculator he developed while studying at UC Berkeley. However, it was his teen-focused apps that truly launched him into the spotlight. In 2017, he created TBH, an anonymous compliment app that quickly became a sensation, leading to its acquisition by Facebook for $30 million. He followed up with Gas in 2022, a similar app that was subsequently purchased by Discord.

Now, Bier has landed his most high-profile role yet as head of product at X, working directly under Elon Musk. His appointment reflects the platform’s desire to embrace a more dynamic and experimental approach to social media development. Bier’s track record of building quick, engaging apps that resonate with younger audiences makes him an intriguing choice for transforming X into a multi-functional “super app”.

His approach to product development is distinctly different from traditional tech companies. Bier believes in rapid iteration, minimal viable products, and understanding the psychological triggers that make apps go viral. He’s known for his ability to shrink development cycles from a year to just two weeks and for creating products that tap into users’ core desires for connection and validation.

At X, Bier has already hinted at potential changes, suggesting improvements to notifications and exploring AI-powered feed filtering. His friends and colleagues see him as a potentially transformative figure who could help reshape the platform’s future.

As social media continues to evolve, Bier represents a new generation of tech innovators who prioritize speed, user engagement, and creative risk-taking over traditional corporate methodologies. His appointment at X could signal a significant shift in how social platforms are developed and experienced.

AUTHOR: cgp

SOURCE: SF Standard