This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s fall editorial intern Alayna Thomas. Find her on Instagram at @ratatoolie. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
I have recently been hearing about an app called Diem. It touts itself as a social search engine for women and femmes, based on how we like to search and receive information. It has a ton of different features and is actively trying to increase its user base. But, is it worth it? Is this just another online service hopping on the AI wave? Luckily for you, I have been using Diem daily for about a week now, and I feel somewhat qualified to speak on it. This Diem app review will give you all of the basics of the app and hopefully you will know if it’s right for you.
How and Why Was Diem Created?
Diem was founded by Emma Bates and Divia Singh after Bates’ had an experience trying to find information about emergency contraceptives. In her search, she noted how she wished there was a space where she could easily find everyone’s stories about their experience with it in one place. This was the jumping off point to further probe how women and men look up information.
It turns out that there is research that supports the idea that women do tend to look for information in ways different from men. Women are more likely to search on social media sites than men. I can attest to this— whenever I search something, I add ‘Reddit’ to the end of the search. Additionally, 51% of women compared to 39% of men utilize customer reviews and find them helpful. In general, women also prefer specific and concrete language compared to generalized, more abstract language.
Diem AI tries to combat this by communicating in a more conversational style. The answer that the AI engine gives you is a combination of other information on the internet, as well as posts and responses made by users of the app.
How Does the AI Work?
It’s fairly simple and is similar to other search engines. Just type in your question to the AI, and it gives you a few responses. First, you get a short answer, called ‘The Low Down’ which is an overview of the (much) longer answer the AI will give you. After ‘The Low Down’, you will see a block of text which is the official response. After that, you may be guided to some answers that other users, called Diemers, have given in response to a similar question that you asked the AI. It will also redirect you to posts that are related to your question, as well as an option to hit Bing and Google for more searches.
I tried this out for myself and asked Diem AI how to cut back on impulsive spending. I was quite satisfied with the answer it gave me! It told me to first look at why I would impulsively spend: is it to fill a void or simply a habit? Then, it suggested keeping a spending journal and implementing the 50/30/20 rule. Lastly, it told me to wait at least 24 hours before making a purchase that wasn’t a necessity. If I still really want the item the next day, I can buy it.
I really like that there is a mix of human answers with the AI. Although I still have some qualms about the AI trying to recapture a conversational tone and be like a ‘big sister’, I do appreciate how you can still look at answers by other humans. It does not feel gimmicky and over-reliant on AI. This brings me onto the next feature of Diem: posting.
Can You Make Public Posts to Ask the Community?
Yes! In this regard, Diem is similar to Reddit. People ask all types of questions, from career advice to how long you can keep a tampon in. Seriously, no question is that embarrassing. You do need an account to ask questions, but if the content is sensitive, you can ask the question anonymously.
I obviously had to also try asking a few questions to the Diem community and see if any Diemers would respond. They did!
I am currently studying for my drivers permit right now and I decided to ask if any people know how to overcome anxiety while driving, because I sure have it. I got two very encouraging answers. The first one wasn’t advice, but it was another user telling me that they struggle with their anxiety while driving. They offered me kind words of support. It made me feel good to know that I am not the only person struggling with it in that context specifically. The second answer was very detailed. This person gave me advice on how to build my confidence as well as actionable steps, some of which I have already made.
Secondly, I asked for book recommendations! I am trying to read more (I am currently two books down), and I specifically asked for biographies. I added the recommendations that I got to my list and I am looking forward to reading them.
Are There Other Ways to Connect With People?
You can also make posts to specific ‘community’ tabs as well. In order to access this, you must use the app, it’s not available on the website. These communities are focused on different topics and locations, such as NYC Girlies or decentering men. I joined a few and I like them, but they are not super active yet. This is a newer feature and I am sure that as more people join the app, more will join communities and more communities will be made.
In a community, most posts revolve around that topic. For location based communities, you see people asking for bar recs or how to act like a local. Recently, I saw someone suggest a book club for us Diemers based in Brooklyn. I really like how there is an emphasis on it being a community. People want to plan IRL events to get us off of our screens!
Should I Use Diem?
My verdict is: yes. In my time using the app, I somehow became a Diem Ambassador, so you can tell that I was really exploring the app. Most of the users are nice and supportive. I can tell that the dev team is focusing on maintaining the good vibes!
Please note that Diem is still beta testing, so some features are a bit wonky and at times. Both the app and website layout can glitch. But, if you want to be cool and get ahead of the curve with a newer social media app that is focused on giving and sharing advice while building community, this is the app for you.
What did you think of this Diem app review? Would you use it? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments!
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