Overview

2021/2022 took a toll on all of us. It was the year everyone seemed to tweet about crying or contemplating a weekly/daily cry schedule. I gave it a shot too, trying to allocate specific days just to let it all out.

Amidst the Twitter banter, I noticed people openly sharing their journeys of overcoming hardships and challenges. Motivated by these conversations, I chose to harness that energy and create something fun, and enjoyable.

Although I got the idea to work on this in 2022, i couldn’t bring myself to flesh it out properly. 2023 has topped the s̶h̶e̶g̶e̶ hardship we collectively saw in 2022. This nudged me to pick this project back up, flesh it out and come up with something I can be proud of.

The ‘alot’ platform is a space where people could connect, empathize, and share their journeys through life’s challenges. The primary focus is to showcase stories of everyday people, our struggles no matter how mundane and to create a supportive community people can look forward to being a part of.

Amina seems to be a schedule your cry pioneer and I would say her tweets inspired me to do this ❤️

Challenge

There’s a lack of a dedicated platform where people can share, connect, and draw strength from collective experiences. Passive conversations are happening every day on Twitter and other social platforms, and it becomes increasingly challenging to keep up with meaningful exchanges.

Many times, I found myself scouring social media in search of others who might be going through similar experiences, hoping to learn how they navigated through those challenges and I always meet a dead end. I’m aware that I’m not alone in facing this difficulty, and it underscores the need for a more streamlined and supportive space where people can openly share, connect authentically, and find solace in shared experiences.

Pain points

From studying people online I was able to deduce the following pain points:

• Isolation and loneliness: People going through challenges experience a sense of isolation and loneliness. Social media platforms may not provide the depth of connection needed during difficult moments.
• Lack of tangible support: There is no dedicated platform where users can find practical advice, resources, and genuine support to navigate their specific challenges.
• Absence of humor in supportive spaces: Lots of support platforms lack a light-hearted approach, making it challenging for users to find moments of joy or humor in adversity.

Gains

What people could gain from a platform like alot:

• Community Connection: ‘alot’ addresses the pain of isolation by fostering a sense of community where users can connect with others facing similar challenges, creating a network of understanding and empathy.
• Empowerment Through Shared Experiences: Users will gain a sense of empowerment by sharing and listening to stories by others. This will break down challenges into manageable, relatable experiences.
• Humor as a Coping Mechanism: The incorporation of humor into the platform serves as a unique offering, providing users with moments of levity and laughter, which can be powerful coping mechanisms during tough times.