Since Wednesday’s press release was full of social media jargon, it may be tough for most fans to understand what Fancred is, or why they should bother downloading it. Do you really need another social media network in your life?

Well, here’s a somewhat simplified explanation of what Fancred is, and why you may or may not want to give it a try:

• The company calls itself “the world’s fastest growing fan network,” which is more marketing speak than anything else. But the app did rank inside the top 10 of the App Store’s (free) sports category last month.

• Fancred wants to give fans an alternative to the “content overload” they get on networks like Facebook and Twitter. It’s a solid idea, but one that a handful of other startups have tried and failed with over the last few years.

• Fancred hopes to win you over by offering a sports-focused platform. So if you sign up as a Panthers fan and follow the Panthers and fellow fans, you’ll get a Panthers-only experience. You won’t be bombarded by baby pictures or the latest political rant from your uncle.

• Despite the “world’s fastest growing fan network” claim, you won’t be joining a ready-made community of thousands of users. It’s cool that the Panthers are dipping their toes into something different, and you could meet new, like-minded and passionate fans, but it may be too quiet for many.

• While Fancred’s content is mostly user-generated right now, the Panthers plan to post some stuff that won’t be on their other social sites. They probably won’t upload a page from the playbook, but you could find some interesting things you won’t see elsewhere.

• You can download Fancred from the App Store or on Google Play. It’s mobile only, so there isn’t a desktop version. Considering how mobile-focused the world is getting, that’s not a terrible idea. You know how easy it is to check Instagram a few times a day? That may end up being the best use of Fancred. Pop in … see what’s going on, what people are saying … pop out.

Essentially, if you’re already following the Panthers on Twitter, Facebook and/or Instagram, you likely don’t need to add Fancred. And considering how tough it is for alternative social networks to truly catch on, the app may not have a long future. But if you’re a die-hard fan that can’t connect enough, the Panthers have provided another avenue.

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