The University of Connecticut recently had a new piece of technology join the group of communications-based mobile apps in the form of the Circle. Developed by UConn student Nicholas Elsener, the Circle is a social network for UConn students specifically.
The Circle functions like many other apps of its kind, giving students the opportunity to create a personalized account from which they can post, send direct messages, interact with others and much more. The Circle is also synced with UConn’s dining menu, allowing students to see menus from different dining halls without leaving the app.
“The Circle was inspired by a desire to create a more genuine, campus-centric social network,” Elsener said via email. “Many existing platforms can feel too broad or impersonal, Yik Yak for pretty much only allows you to post anonymously, and I wanted to create a campus social media app that is more personal, giving students a space to connect, share, and talk about campus-specific topics in real time.”
One notable aspect of the Circle app is its ability to create a web of user connections, also called the Circle. Once a user has made a few friends on the app, the Circle will create a web of connections, allowing the user to see and reach out to friends of friends.
When discussing the creation of the app itself, Elsener said, “the process took several months, as I wanted to create something that would be both easy to use and meaningful for students. Testing, refining, and responding to user feedback has also been a big part of it.”
Despite this long development period, the Circle is still changing and growing as Elsener adds features and refines others.
“I would definitely say the app is still in development and I hope to improve it with every new update,” he said. “Future updates may include more interactive features, enhanced user customization, and even collaborations with campus organizations. I plan on allowing video uploads next week, for example.”
Elsener has primarily marketed the app through posters, which can be found throughout campus. Each one depicts an orange and purple circle — the app’s logo — and many promise giveaways alongside their QR codes to download the app.
“I’ve used a few different strategies beyond just posters,” Elsener said. “I have tried doing giveaways and paid referral codes, but I’ve found that these two haven’t really been as successful as just the posters despite money being involved. I have done events in the Union and Fairfield Way where I would give away Krispy Kreme donuts in exchange for downloading the app, and those have been very successful.”
As for how Elsener views the Circle himself, he said, “I think The Circle can serve as a central hub for students to connect over shared interests, stay updated with campus events, and just feel more connected with each other. It’s a place where students can feel comfortable expressing themselves and discussing things that matter to them on campus.”
Elsener currently plans on adding a club discovery feature, allowing students to see the communities within clubs and determine if they would be a good fit.
