If you use software to help you be a better friend, have you failed?

That seems to be what some people believe, if the tweets in response to Kaitlyn Tiffany’s (🐦) story in the Atlantic are any indication.

In Managing Your Friendships, With Software, she writes about several startups whose apps appear to be overtaking the productivity category of the App Store as people seem to be looking for assistance in caring for and attending to their personal relationships:

There’s Dex, “a tool to turn acquaintances into allies.” Clay, “an extension of your brain, purposefully built to help you remember people.” “Forgetting personal details?” Hippo “helps you stay attentive [and] keep track of friends, family and colleagues you care for,” for just $1.49 a month. Plum Contacts sends reminders to message your friends, and rewards you with cartoon berries that “indicate how strong your relationship is.” “Build the relationships you always wish you had,” the UpHabit site promises.

Among the tweets gathered by Techmeme, these stood out to me:

“Running your life like a business doesn’t work & your loved ones aren’t employees. 💰😵💰”

“Finally, a way to have my friends submit RFPs for evening plans”

“ah yes, techd00ds, let’s turn friendship into work too”

“oh good, software bros have…