Social fitness app Strava has recently rolled out a series of new features, aiming to enhance user experience for both free and premium users. These updates include the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to maintain leaderboard integrity by automatically detecting and removing activities that may not be genuine, responding to a long-standing issue of users finding ways to unfairly top the leaderboards.
Leaderboards on Strava are designed to foster a competitive spirit among users by encouraging challenges on specific routes or “segments.” To combat tactics like using motorized assistance to achieve faster times, Strava introduced machine learning tools that analyze millions of past activities to identify what characterizes normal human performance. This move represents a significant advancement in Strava’s use of technology to maintain fair competition within its community.
In addition to addressing leaderboard accuracy, Strava is testing a feature called “athlete intelligence” for premium subscribers, which employs generative AI to analyze user data and offer summaries and recommendations tailored to individual performance and fitness objectives. The exact technology powering this feature is under wraps, but it indicates Strava’s commitment to personalize and improve the user experience with cutting-edge tech.
Another feature that’s been highly anticipated by the user base is dark mode, now rolling out to respond to user feedback. This option allows users to switch the app’s appearance to a darker color scheme for reduced eye strain and better usability in low-light conditions. The app will offer the flexibility to keep dark mode on at all times or have it adjust according to the user’s device settings.
Strava is also introducing a “family plan,” which offers a discount for multiple users signing up together. Differing from the traditional understanding of a family plan, Strava’s version allows any group of users residing in the same country to join together for the subscription, whether they’re blood relatives, friends, or teammates. This novel approach recognizes the diverse social structures within which Strava is used and encourages broader participation. Specific details regarding the cost savings and logistics of the family plan will be unveiled as it launches initially in Australia and Canada, with a global expansion to follow.
These updates come amidst organizational changes within Strava, including new leadership aiming to continue the platform’s growth and address user concerns. The focus on social networking features is evident, with the previous addition of in-app messaging to foster community engagement.
Strava is also making moves to attract a wider user base, including new features that cater to different demographics. One such feature is “night heatmaps,” a variant of the app’s existing global heatmaps. Targeted to launch later in the year, night heatmaps will highlight routes that are popular during nighttime hours, which could help users, particularly women, feel safer when active after dark. Another feature, “quick edit,” will allow users to control the visibility of certain metrics and details of their workouts, catering to privacy preferences within the social fitness landscape.
While some of these new features, such as night heatmaps, will be exclusive to premium users, others like quick edit will be available to everyone. The growing engagement, especially among younger female users, is indicative of the company’s desire to create an inclusive and motivating environment for all athletes.
Strava’s commitment to enhancing the fitness experience through AI and community-driven features demonstrates their responsiveness to user feedback. With its blend of social networking and athletic performance tracking, Strava continues to solidify its position as a unique platform for fitness enthusiasts around the globe.
