Every year, millions of people publicly declare their New Year's resolutions on social media, only to forget or abandon them shortly after. While this is often seen as a lighthearted trend, it highlights a broader issue: people set goals without built-in accountability or reflection. A playful, automated way to remind them of their past ambitions could serve as both a humorous nudge and a subtle prompt for self-improvement.

How It Could Work

One way to approach this is by creating a Twitter bot that scans for tweets containing phrases like "My New Year's resolutions are…" or similar goal declarations. The bot could then store a screenshot of the tweet along with the user's handle and timestamp. On December 31 of the same year, it would reply to the original tweet with the screenshot and a witty message like, "So… how’d that go?" or "Time for round two?"

• Optional features: Users could opt out by replying with a keyword (e.g., "#NoReminder"), or the bot could offer a year-in-review summary for those who tweeted multiple goals.
• Stakeholder incentives: Users get entertainment or mild accountability, Twitter benefits from increased engagement, and the creator could explore viral growth or light monetization.

Execution and Challenges

A minimal version could use Twitter’s API to scan for resolution-related tweets at the start of the year, store them in a database, and schedule replies for December 31. More advanced versions might include opt-out functionality or support for broader goal-related phrases.

Key challenges include Twitter’s API restrictions and ensuring the bot doesn’t feel invasive. Starting small with a beta group, spacing out replies, and offering clear opt-out options could mitigate these risks.

Comparison to Existing Tools

Unlike generic bots like @YearProgress, this idea adds humor and personal engagement. It’s also distinct from serious goal-tracking apps like StickK, which use financial stakes, or defunct tools like @RememberThisTweet, which relied on user-initiated reminders.

By blending humor, accountability, and social media culture, this approach could create shareable, low-maintenance engagement. The biggest hurdle would be navigating Twitter’s automation rules, so testing with a small group first would be wise.