10 points. Choose one of the social media apps and answer two of the five questions below.
Here’s a set of six fictional social media platforms you can use for a classroom group activity. I designed them so each one highlights different ethical issues, user bases, and advertising practices—from respectful and privacy‑protective to wildly intrusive. This gives students plenty to debate, compare, and critique.
🌐 1. WhisperWave
Core Idea
A minimalist, privacy‑first platform for anonymous micro‑journaling and emotional check‑ins.
Key Features
- Posts disappear after 24 hours
- No follower counts, likes, or public profiles
- End‑to‑end encrypted private groups
- Mood‑tracking tools that stay on the device
Target Users
Teens and young adults who want a low‑pressure, judgment‑free space.
Advertising Style
High‑privacy.
- Only contextual ads (e.g., “journaling apps,” “mental wellness books”)
- No tracking, no personalization
- Users can opt out entirely
📸 2. SnapSphere
Core Idea
A visual storytelling platform where users create “memory spheres”—360° snapshots of moments.
Key Features
- Immersive 360° photo posts
- Collaborative “memory timelines” for events
- AI-assisted accessibility descriptions
Target Users
Creative hobbyists, travelers, and students documenting projects.
Advertising Style
Moderate personalization.
- Uses broad categories (travel, photography, art)
- No third‑party data sharing
- Ads appear as optional “sponsored spheres” users can explore
🎮 3. GuildChat
Core Idea
A community platform built around fandoms, gaming guilds, and niche interest groups.
Key Features
- Voice channels with built‑in moderation tools
- Customizable avatars and badges
- Event scheduling for tournaments or meetups
Target Users
Gamers, fandom communities, hobby groups.
Advertising Style
Behavior‑based targeting.
- Ads based on group memberships (e.g., “RPG fans,” “cosplay makers”)
- Sponsored events and in‑app loot drops
- No off‑platform tracking
🛍️ 4. TrendLoop
Core Idea
A fast‑moving platform where users post short video “loops” of outfits, gadgets, and lifestyle hacks.
Key Features
- AI auto‑tags products in videos
- “Loop Challenges” that go viral weekly
- Creator storefronts
Target Users
Teens, influencers, and trend‑seekers.
Advertising Style
Highly personalized.
- Uses browsing history, likes, and watch time
- Dynamic ads that change based on what users hover over
- Influencer‑brand partnerships baked into the feed
🧠 5. MindMesh
Core Idea
A professional‑learning network where users share ideas, research, and skill‑building content.
Key Features
- Long‑form posts and collaborative whiteboards
- Skill badges and portfolio pages
- AI‑generated summaries of discussions
Target Users
College students, educators, early‑career professionals.
Advertising Style
Career‑targeted.
- Ads for courses, certifications, job boards
- Uses résumé‑like profile data
- No personal browsing data used
👁️ 6. LifeLens
Core Idea
A hyper‑personalized life‑logging platform that tracks everything—location, purchases, habits—and turns it into a “digital diary.”
Key Features
- Automatic daily “life summaries”
- Predictive suggestions (“You usually get coffee now…”)
- Smart home integration
Target Users
Tech enthusiasts, quantified‑self fans, and people who love data.
Advertising Style
Deeply exploitative.
- Uses location, purchase history, biometrics, and behavior patterns
- Ads appear at “emotionally vulnerable moments” (e.g., after breakups, late at night)
- Sells data to third parties
- Hard to opt out
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Questions. Answer any two
- Privacy & Ethics
What kinds of user data would your platform collect, and how would you clearly explain that to users?
→ Follow-up: What trade-offs are you asking users to accept between convenience and privacy? - Problem & Viability
What real problem does your platform solve that existing social media platforms do not—or do not solve well?
→ Follow-up: Why would users switch or add your platform instead of sticking with what they already use? - Target Audience & Marketability
Who is your primary target audience, and how would you realistically reach them without a massive marketing budget?
→ Follow-up: What features are specifically designed for that audience—and not everyone else? - Moderation & Sustainability
How would your platform handle harmful content, misinformation, or harassment, and what would that cost in time or money?
→ Follow-up: How might those moderation choices affect free expression and user growth? - Monetization & Profit
How would your platform make money without undermining user trust or the core purpose of the platform?
→ Follow-up: At what point could monetization threaten the values or appeal of your idea?
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