Ethan Crossfield 
Rockstar Games is treating social media as more than a source of jokes in Grand Theft Auto 6. The developer says working feeds will help define Vice City, a location shaped by celebrity culture, tourism, fast-moving trends, and an intense concern with personal appearance.
What happened
In an interview with Dazed, Rockstar stylist Jillian Carr described Vice City as a place where vanity influences everyday life. That idea extends across the game’s population, which has been built with a wider range of clothing, hairstyles, body types, tattoos, piercings, and other visual traits. These details are intended to make residents fit the specific areas of Leonida where they appear, from affluent parts of Vice City to other regions of the state.
Dazed also confirmed that GTA 6 will feature functioning social media feeds. When players see a character associated with a particular location through a feed, they will be able to travel there and find that NPC in the world. Confirmed phone and social apps include BuckMe, RydeMe, Scooter Bros, WhatUp, Waink, Snapmatic, and a fitness app. Waink is tied to car theft, while Snapmatic returns as part of the game’s broader phone ecosystem.
Why it matters
GTA 5 used fictional services such as Lifeinvader and Bleeter to parody Facebook and Twitter. GTA 6 appears to be making social media part of the world’s underlying structure instead of limiting it to background satire. Feeds can show activity across Leonida, introduce characters, and reveal developments without turning every event into a traditional mission.
The Real Dimez provide a clear example. Bae-Luxe and Roxy build their careers through viral videos, music, and a persistent online presence. Players can follow their rise through in-game posts, even when they are not directly involved in the events. That approach connects the story to the open world and makes online attention feel like an active force within Vice City.
The phone itself is also designed as a physical tool for Jason and Lucia. The protagonists can use it while moving through the world, including situations where one character drives and the other browses. This creates another way for information, characters, and local activity to reach players during free roam.
What to watch next
The most important question is how dynamic these feeds will feel during normal play. Rockstar has established that players can use them to locate characters and observe viral storylines, but the full limits of that system remain unclear. It is also not yet known how frequently feeds will change or how many additional apps will be available at launch.
The confirmed services suggest that GTA 6 will use the phone to connect several parts of the experience: transport, celebrity culture, photography, criminal activity, fitness, and social discovery. If these systems respond meaningfully to what happens around Jason and Lucia, social media could become one of the game’s main tools for making Leonida feel active between missions.
Key takeaways for GTA 6 players
- Social media feeds will be functional parts of the open world, not only parody websites.
- Players can use posts to find certain NPCs in specific areas of Leonida.
- Real Dimez’s rise will unfold through viral in-game content and music-related posts.
- Confirmed apps include BuckMe, RydeMe, Scooter Bros, WhatUp, Waink, Snapmatic, and a fitness app.
Expert View
Rockstar’s strongest idea here is not simply adding more phone apps; it is making visibility part of the world’s design. In Vice City, people, brands, careers, and trends are all competing for attention. If the feeds consistently point players toward real characters and evolving situations, GTA 6 could make browsing the phone feel like exploration rather than an interruption.
