Germ, a new messaging app from a four-person startup, just launched… for real this time. Today, it operates such end-to-end encrypted messaging services for Bluesky, a social media platform powered by ATProto technology. Fellow Tessa Brown, a medical communications scholar, and Mark Xue, a privacy engineer, established Germ. Their mission is to build a free and open alternative to closed-source encrypted messaging apps such as iMessage, Signal, and WhatsApp. The app is still in beta testing and will slowly onboard new users before its public launch.
Considering privacy is the biggest issue rocking social media these days, the introduction of Germ couldn’t come at a more ironic time. Tessa Brown, former lecturer in law at Stanford University, made a strong case for nurturing trust in public discourse conducted digitally. She stressed that developing any type of positive relationship with folks isn’t possible when you feel like you’re always being watched and played. Psychologically, that feeling of urgency undermines any mutual trust. That’s really what social media is at its core today. With Germ, Brown and her team want to make the online world a safer space for people to express themselves.
Germ fits naturally into the ATProto framework, where everyone can have speedy chats without sacrificing security. The app incorporates exciting new technology such as App Clips. This unique feature allows users to execute a small portion of the app’s code without downloading the full app. We think this feature is a great step forward in leveraging some of Apple’s underused capabilities within their ecosystem.
On the functional side, Germ operates on a distinctive combined “magic link” model and users are provided with a special cryptographic key. This key is what authenticates the user’s identity across ATProto, and it is easily copied and pasted into the user’s Bluesky bio. The magic link takes the work out of reaching out to the right people, and makes sure that conversations stay confidential.
Germ gives users substantial control over their interactions by providing extensive blocking options. Users can opt to block people not just within Germ, but within the entire Bluesky ecosystem and other ATProto-powered applications. This added flexibility means that users are able to make sure that their social interactions are exactly what they want.
Recently, Germ has been preparing for its public launch! So far, it has gained the support of investors who count a co-author of MLS and other experts in trust and safety among their numbers. The acquisition follows the startup’s pre-seed funding, which will enable it to continue expanding its services beyond Michigan.
Brown’s vision for Germ is strongly influenced by her time at Apple. There, Xue continued to develop and refine her craft as a privacy engineer, working on major products such as FaceTime and iMessage. Brown noted her strong belief in the importance of end-to-end encrypted messaging as a cornerstone for the future of social media: “So I came out of that work with a really strong conviction around end-to-end encrypted messaging as kind of the centerpiece of what I thought was the future of social media and the future of communication.”
Germ hopes to introduce a premium subscription model later this year. This expanded paid offering will give users access to enhanced premium features such as private AI services, personalized tools and more. The need for safe and confidential communication has never been greater. Germ provides a compelling third-party option for those who want to transition away from corporate adjuncts of mainstream messaging apps.
