Modern technology and social media have been integrated into almost every person’s lives. Individuals can instantly share photos, post status updates, and message others from the comfort of their homes. There are approximately three and a half billion users of these social media apps worldwide and it’s estimated to increase 9% annually (Karim et al.). An issue that comes up with social media use is isolation. It is clear that people want more social media, better ones, that lead to true connection. To tackle this issue, our team has developed an application that allows users to develop relationships while eating food through groups, texts chats, and through an interest and location based categorical matchmaking technique.

Full Poster: Lunch Buddies: Establishing Lunch Time Connections through a Categorical Matchmaking App