CollageMe

Track 3: Defining Self-Identity

What is the problem your solution addresses?

As students enter college and adulthood, they find it more difficult to form connections with others and as a result, become more lonely. A simple solution to this might be your standard social media app, such as Instagram, however, these apps can amplify the issue. People find themselves more preoccupied with like counts, number of followers, judgment from peers, and following trends. This, in turn, makes it difficult to be one's authentic self, and connect with others, and increases feelings of isolation as people compare their lives to curated ones on social media.

Why did you pick this solution, and how does it address the problem?

Our solution, CollageMe, is designed to promote authenticity, exploration, and connection. CollageMe is different from traditional forms of social media as it removes likes, comments, and follower counts which allows for people to focus on posting their interests and hobbies. Through collages, people are able to express their unique interests with visual storytelling. People are able to use tags and a search bar to find others with similar interests.

This approach allows for meaningful conversations through discussions about their collages. Additionally, CollageMe allows users to find or form bigger communities regarding their interests and identities.