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Lance approaches James, proposing he do minimal work so no one else in the class has to. James, an introverted freshman who is nonetheless the strongest coder, is drawn into the plan. Their uneasy partnership marks the start of Jungle.

Lance talks to James about developing an app for hookups. He discovers James has been coding since childhood and enlists him to build the ultimate hookup app, Jungle. In exchange, Lance promises to cover James's transfer to an Ivy League school.

James moves into the dorm room to work day and night on Jungle. The goal of Jungle is to connect people physically with no commitment, with no numbers or names exchanged so participants can have guaranteed one-night stands. He takes control of the project and pushes forward.

The computer science professor excuses him from having to do assignments, claiming he's coding constantly. James becomes the de facto coder for Jungle, while Lance and his friends push him to keep going. The class's dynamic shifts as his absence is rationalized by the project.

During Christmas break, James sees the consequences of his work at home. His dad brings a very young date he found on Jungle, and his mom is convinced to try it as well after being influenced by friends. The holiday reveals how the app has affected his family.

The next day, James tries to get his grandparents and their friends to answer a questionnaire on their past sexual and relationship experiences. He uses the app's logic to gather data and reflects on how Jungle's ideas might spread through generations. The effort underscores the widening reach of his project.

James returns home to find his mom back on Jungle, prompting him to take the app and similar ones down to stop her. He works to minimize the damage, but the system has already started to affect others. The scene shows the personal toll of his creation.

Back at campus, Lance and his crew hound James to get Jungle back online. He is pressured to resume work and the startup energy returns. The stakes rise as the app's influence threatens his relationships.

James hides from Lance in Hannah's sorority house, and is allowed to stay only if he builds a relationship app for the sorority. After a brief return to his room, Lance and friends coerce him to stay and resume work, using a relaxing tea to slip back to the sorority.

Lance leaks James's involvement in Jungle to the press, triggering a public fallout. The exposure forces James to confront the consequences of his invention. Hannah hears about the leak and confronts him, making the situation personal.

Hannah directly questions James about his work on Jungle and its impact. He confesses that he wanted to connect with her through the app, revealing flawed motivations. Her response underscores the emotional cost of his actions.

James admits his feelings for Hannah and they share a kiss. He urges everyone to stay off the apps to force real-world connections. The story closes on a note that genuine relationships matter more than clever code.