South Korean app Setlog turns hourly 2-second clips into shared vlogs

Young South Koreans are embracing Setlog, a social networking app that compiles hourly two-second video clips from up to 12 friends into a single shared vlog, as an alternative to what many describe as burnout from curated, performative social media, The Korea Times reported Wednesday.

The app's popularity reflects a measurable shift among South Korean youth away from aspirational, broadcast-style content creation and toward low-effort, authenticity-focused social networking with a small circle of close friends.

Users record a two-second video clip each hour, and the app compiles contributions from up to 12 participants into a single chronological vlog showing what each person was doing simultaneously, according to The Korea Times. Editing options are minimal; participants may add short captions for context or comedic effect. Filming and uploading each snippet takes about five seconds, the newspaper reported.

The platform is designed for close friend groups rather than public audiences, a deliberate departure from the broadcast model of established social media. Young Koreans have grown weary of existing platforms, which they associate with performative and divisive content, The Korea Times reported.

Kim, a university graduate in her 20s, told The Korea Times she started using Setlog to maintain contact with high school friends who have gone different directions in life. "There are four of us, and we are all pursuing different paths in life. Because of this, we rarely get to see what each other's everyday lives actually look like. I'm using Setlog to share daily moments with my high school friends," she said.

Kim said her group has used the app for about 10 days and values how little time it requires. "We've been using it for about 10 days, and since it only takes about five seconds to film and upload, we're really enjoying sharing our snippets of our daily lives," she said.

Seeing what each participant was doing at the same moment creates shared experiences of empathy and humor, according to The Korea Times. "Even though we've known each other for over a decade, using this app has helped us discover new things about one another," Kim said.

Setlog also includes a built-in chatroom where participants can comment on each other's uploads and communicate in real time alongside the shared vlog, The Korea Times reported.