Development of a Social Connection Platform to Combat Loneliness in Target Community

The target organization recognizes a rising issue of social loneliness affecting mental and physical health, with an estimated 9 million individuals in the region experiencing isolation. Existing barriers to forming new relationships and the need for a secure, user-friendly platform hinder community engagement. The challenge is to create an accessible online space that encourages meaningful interactions based on shared interests and circumstances, while ensuring user verification and privacy.

A startup or non-profit organization aiming to reduce loneliness and social isolation by facilitating new friendships through a digital platform.

• Create a web-based social platform that facilitates real-time video communication and messaging among users.
• Implement user profiles with options for anonymity and verification badges to promote trust and informed interactions.
• Enable users to initiate and participate in video chats using WebRTC technology, supporting peer-to-peer communication.
• Support proxy user functionality to help connect loved ones or assist users in offline networking.
• Develop a responsive, user-friendly interface mirroring designs aligned with the target community needs.
• Ensure scalability, security, and performance to accommodate fluctuating user loads and safeguard user data.
• Deliver a platform aimed at reducing feelings of loneliness, promoting social engagement, and measuring user interaction metrics.

• Profile creation with options for anonymity or verified identity, including photo galleries and personal information.
• Live video chat functionality using WebRTC for real-time peer-to-peer video communication.
• Instant messaging system for text-based communication among users and proxy accounts.
• User verification system with badges indicating verified profiles to aid trust and safety.
• Proxy user capability to support caregiving or assistance roles for offline connections.
• Notification and engagement features to encourage active participation.
• Admin controls for user verification, moderation, and data security.

• User verification and identity confirmation systems
• Notification services (e.g., email or in-app notifications)
• Data analytics tools for measuring engagement and platform usage
• Secure payment gateways if monetization features are incorporated

• Scalability to support growth beyond initial user base, ensuring platform remains responsive under load
• Secure handling of user data with encryption, compliance with privacy standards
• High availability with 99.9% uptime and minimal latency for real-time communications
• Cross-browser compatibility and responsive design for diverse devices
• Robust user authentication and authorization measures

The platform is expected to significantly reduce social isolation among users by providing accessible, secure, and engaging tools for social interaction. Targeted metrics include increased user engagement rates, higher frequency of video chats and messages, and improved user trust through verified profiles. Ultimately, the project aims to create a supportive online community that fosters meaningful relationships, contributing to improved mental and physical well-being, and measurable reduction in loneliness indicators.