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Idea

An app-based game that gets people to socialize with strangers by giving them progressively more awkward challenges

Image credit: BBC

Darko Savic

Darko Savic Sep 21, 2021

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An app-based game where the player has to reach out to strangers around them and get them to do stuff. The tasks are designed so that the participants are likely to have fun/rewarding experiences after they overcome the awkwardness of the situation. The tasks get progressively more funny, awkward, and challenging - especially to people that are not comfortable talking to strangers. 

The game can be played in multiplayer mode. This basically means that a group of friends see each other's finished/unfinished tasks. They would naturally be inclined to tell each other how it went. They can do so in the group chat. This adds a layer of accountability to the game.

Why?
Help people socialize in person rather than via the internet
Create interesting stories that people will remember
Instill a habit of talking to people
Help introvers make new friends
Help people realize that a lot can be achieved by just taking the first step
The tasks would start out easy. There would be a few to warm up sessions every day to get the player "in the zone". Stuff like "show a stranger a photo of your pet and get their opinion on it". Soon enough, the tasks would get more challenging like "get one stranger to record a video of you trying to perform this dance on the street while their friend has to play the role of the background helper guy in the video and cheer you on".

socializing sociology games

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Creative contributions

Do we need to validate the performed tasks?

Shubhankar Kulkarni

Shubhankar Kulkarni Sep 22, 2021

@Darko You mentioned that users can share their experiences with their friends adding a layer of accountability but how do we validate tasks performed by individuals who may not have their friends on the platform or do not have any friends and are, therefore, using the app to socialize?

Should the app ask for validation of the tasks by uploading pictures or videos of the tasks? If yes, then we also need a system for checking these pictures and videos and approving the tasks. Volunteer moderators may help with that. If there is no validation, then a person may simply increase their points and levels in the game and not actually socialize with anyone, defeating the purpose of the app.

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Darko Savic

Darko Savic3 years ago

It's a game of accountability. If you are not accountable to your friends, you are accountable to yourself. Lying and progressing to the next task would make the game pointless.

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Shubhankar Kulkarni

Shubhankar Kulkarni3 years ago

Darko Savic Relying on users to be accountable may not help them (all kinds of users) and, therefore, the popularity of the app. The app needs to show positive results on users' lives if it wants to grow.

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Darko Savic

Darko Savic3 years ago

Shubhankar Kulkarni maybe we can come up with a way to motivate people to share short stories on their social media? "Today the app made me do this..."

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General comments

Spook Louw

Spook Louw3 years ago

Perhaps the app can start by giving you challenges involving other people who use the app, this could make people feel a bit more at ease about approaching a "random" and interacting with them, knowing that they "signed up" for it. 
As the challenges progress (and perhaps without warning) they could start involving other people.

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Darko Savic

Darko Savic3 years ago

Spook Louw there would be warmup levels and tasks. Talking to people in the service industry (shop clerks, bartenders) is easy.

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