Table of Contents
Quick Answer
Build a niche social network (photographers, runners, devs) not a generic one. Use Next.js + Supabase Realtime for live feeds, pgvector for interest-based ranking, AI for moderation. Cold-start with a seeded community of 100 engaged users before opening wide.
- Time to beta: 4-8 weeks
- Cost: $50-300/mo
- Hardest part: Network effects (solve via niche)
What You'll Need
- Next.js 15, TypeScript
- Supabase with Realtime + pgvector
- Push notification service (OneSignal, Firebase)
- AI for content moderation
Steps
- Pick a tight niche. "Social network for knife collectors" beats "Instagram but better." Narrow = identity = retention.
- Build auth & profiles. Supabase Auth. Profile fields: bio, interests (tags), avatar, 1 link. Keep minimal — adding profile depth later is easy.
- Feed schema.
posts (id, user_id, content, media_urls, created_at),follows (follower_id, following_id),likes (user_id, post_id),comments (...). - Build the feed. Start simple: reverse-chronological from follows. Then add: for-you feed via interest embeddings + engagement signals.
- Realtime updates. Supabase Realtime channels per user. New post from followee → update feed. New like/comment → in-app notification.
- AI moderation. Run every post through a moderation API or Claude: detect spam, harassment, illegal content. Auto-flag, human-review queue.
- Notifications. Web push via Push API. Mobile via OneSignal. Digest emails for dormant users ("5 new posts in your niche today").
- Launch strategy. Seeded community — recruit 100 ideal users by DM. Private beta for 2 weeks. Then invite-waves to hit critical mass.
Common Mistakes
- Generic positioning: "A new social network" never works. Be specific.
- Algorithmic feed on day 1: No data, nothing to rank. Start chronological.
- No moderation: One bad actor ruins the community. Moderate from post 1.
- Ignoring export/portability: Users fear lock-in. Offer data export.
- Ads too early: Monetize via subscription or creator tips in first 6 months.
Top Tools
| Tool | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Supabase Realtime | Live feeds | Free tier |
| OneSignal | Push notifications | Free tier |
| uploadthing / R2 | Media storage | $0-10/mo |
| Resend-alternative | Transactional email | $0-20/mo |
| Claude Moderation | Content safety | API cost |
Conclusion
Niche social networks win in 2026 because generic platforms feel hostile. Pick a community you love, build the tool you'd use, moderate with care, grow slow and deep. Depth beats breadth.