The narrative around the recent pandemic has often been dictated by the short-term needs of the majority. Most western governments introduced restrictions on the lives and livelihoods of their citizens, driving media outlets to sensationalize people’s immediate desires, such as a forbidden trip to the bar or abroad. But the long-term societal change at play is often neglected in the discussion. For communities already vulnerable to mental health struggles, recovering to normality could last longer than the initial crisis.
@giuseppeantinoro_ believes he has found a solution for the social complexities experienced by the student community. @hoodaapp, which Antinoro co-founded, launched to the App Store and Google Play in early 2022 and behaves with students in mind. Hooda has also strived to improve on the likes of Happn to focus not on relationships but on the formation of sustainable friend groups. Driving the app’s advancement is the aim to tackle the loneliness crisis and offer a solution to students whose mental health has been hindered by the pandemic.
Offering a straightforward but effective design, Hooda is currently available to students at Leeds Beckett University and the University of Leeds in the UK, who can register with a university email address (a key tool in the avoidance of fraud). From there, users can link their social media accounts to their profile similarly to Tinder. Hooda’s standout feature is that it allows students to seek out like-minded individuals in the vicinity in real time. This approach serves to speed up the connection process for those looking for social interaction as soon as possible.
What looks to bring Hooda to the attention of the masses is its dedication to solving one of the world’s relevant issues. Provoked by alarming loneliness statistics, co-founders Giuseppe and Ross are addressing the long-term impact of COVID-19 on the expansion of student social circles. By developing the blueprint created by existing social networks, Hooda could become the go-to platform for student communities across the globe.
