GroupMe: Building Better Groups

Max Fern, Lehigh University

Abstract

This study investigates GroupMe’s existing features, potential alternatives, and ways the communication technology can improve. Three Lehigh undergraduate students were interviewed independently and then convened to brainstorm and discuss potential improvements. Each participant described their goals, as well as their issues, using the service. It is evident that users seek to share and receive useful information, but that specific messages can be hard to find, and distinguishing between light-hearted conversation and logistical details is exceptionally challenging. Adding the ability to hashtag and post announcements to a separate, integrated forum could yield positive results; however, more research is necessary to better understand the magnitude of the impact and the effects of these solutions.