I designed a social connection product in response to a brief set by Airbnb to address loneliness in young people.

Loneliness in 18-24 year olds has become an epidemic and research shows that the addictive nature of social media is to blame.

During user research I found that the popularity of online private communities is on the rise but Gen-Z are hesitant when it comes to taking these digital connections into the real world.

My concept, AirSocial, is designed to turn online connections into real friendships.

AirSocial enables guests in the same location, at the same time, to connect via in-person Airbnb Experiences.

Usability testing uncovered concerns around issues such as privacy and who is expected to start the conversation. In the final product privacy is protected by withholding certain personal details until after a connection is mutually agreed and an AI chat bot handles the awkward introductions to get the conversation flowing.

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