Billy Hong
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Real Talk

Crowdsourced health education app

Overview

Brief

Real Talk is an app designed in collaboration with health and education researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It provides a completely anonymous platform for middle school students to discuss relationships, sex, and other sensitive topics with their peers. Users can seek advice, share their stories, and receive support while maintaining their privacy.

Specs
Branding, UI/UX, product
6 months
Sketch, PowerPoint, Adobe
Problem

Privacy is crucial for this project to work. Sexual health is an incredibly personal topic so anonymity in the app must be maintained to achieve trust.

Solution

Leverage mobile text messaging UI to create a trustworthy and safe mobile app experience.

Impact
Brand identity

Created from the ground up

Beta app

Launched in 2017

Define
The process begins with establishing some definitions that will inform what the app will do and how that serves our goals.

Assumption

Online platforms are preferred by teens for seeking advice on sensitive subjects.

Hypothesis

If Real Talk provides a platform for middle school-aged teens to discuss sex and mental health anonymously, then they will feel more comfortable seeking advice and sharing their experiences, leading to increased knowledge and a sense of support.

Ideal

Real Talk becomes the go-to platform for middle school-aged teens seeking information and advice on sex and mental health.

Customer problem

I am a

Middle school student

I'm trying to

Seek advice and information about sex and mental health

But

I find it challenging to openly discuss these topics in traditional settings such as school or with adults

Because

The typical sex education class does not provide a comfortable space for me to share my concerns, and I often feel embarrassed or judged

Which makes me feel

Isolated and uninformed about important aspects of my health and wellbeing.

Test
Weekly tests were performed with North Carolina students to learn their preferences and shape the app experience.
User interviews

What

Interviewed NC middle schoolers, exploring preferences for an anonymous app and how to share advice.

Takeaways

Familiar UI Wins: Students favored an iOS text messaging-like interface for comfort and engagement.

Texting format led to an assumed privacy, encouraging open communication.

Text message format inherently has understandable history log.

Next steps

Refine Prototype: Align the app closely with iOS texting. Reference forums on how to categorize and search/sort topics.
‍
‍Story interactions: Explore actions and interactions users can take in responding to and revisiting conversations.

‍Iterative Testing: Continuously test and refine the app based on evolving user preferences and needs.

“You can put your comment on how you feel about it instead of havin’ the whole class know what you put, so that’s why I like it.”

- Ashley, student

Iterate
To enhance user experience, we drew inspiration from online discussion forums, optimizing the architecture for categorizing topics, seamless replies, easy topic follow-ups, and dynamic reactions.
Outcomes
2016-2017

Real Talk is funded.

Secured seed funding from the U.S. Office of Population Affairs to develop and implement Real Talk. Launched in beta in 2017 with a focus on sexual health.

Outcomes
2018 - 2019

Reached 15,000+ teens by the end of 2019

Pivoted to include mental health.

Outcomes
2020 - Present

Expanding the network.

Building a network of resources and partners to help teens know they are not alone. To date, 25,000+ teens and counting are served.