Online nightclub? Student-created app aims to help college students connect

A new app created by a University of Florida student will launch soon with the goal of helping students connect.

The free app, called "Nightclub," was created by UF junior Blake Rand for students at the university to meet new people and foster new connections. It will allow pairs of students to connect through live video call and, if they wish, continue their new relationship.

The live video calls, or events, are scheduled in advance. A schedule of upcoming events for the week is available on the app and notifications for upcoming events will be sent out. If everyone gets along and likes each other (by clicking the like button) during the live video event, students are then put into a group chat to continue talking once the event ends.

The app has two types of sessions to choose from: dating or friends. Dating is geared toward students looking for a relationship or to date, while friends is geared toward students who simply want to meet new friends. In either mode students will join with a friend, so there will always be four people in the video calls and subsequent chats.

Although live video calls are different from any dating or connection app out there, Rand believes the idea will catch on.

“It’s different than most apps,” Rand said. “I feel like the typical, you know, dating app, things like that, you're able to hide behind a screen. Not saying that's bad — but I think that once people see other people using this app... Once they get involved and see, yeah, it's a good experience, I think it'll just build.”

As of now, only UF students are allowed to join the app, which requests their UF email and sends a one-time verification code to prove they’re a student. Rand said he would like to expand to other colleges, and then potentially those not in college, in the future.

There’s no age limit to who can join Nightclub, but everyone joining must be older than 18. Rand said the algorithm for pairing people takes age into account so students around the same age can talk.

App safety

Rand said standard rules — such as no bullying, nudity or sexual conduct, among other things — will be strictly enforced on the app.

Anyone feeling uncomfortable can report a person on the live call as well as the chat, if the interaction progresses past the video call stage. Once someone is reported, he said, contact is ended and the student won’t see the person they reported again.

“It's very important because it is, you know, a live video call,” Rand said. “If you ever feel like the person that you're talking to is not behaving how [they] should, there is a report button on the call and also… after the call, if everybody liked, in the chat you can report.”

Since it’s just him behind the scenes right now, Rand said he developed a way to see all the reports and who was reported, which allows him to remove people from the platform if they were reported for a valid reason. He’s also able to see live reports during an ongoing event and kick people off if needed.

Creation of ‘Nightclub’

Rand, who is pursuing a dual degree in computer science and business administration, combined his knowledge of coding with a Stanford course he watched on YouTube about creating mobile apps. On top of money saved from an internship, he was able to begin creating the app.

“I've always wanted to start my own business in college and make an app that helps other people,” he said. “I always knew I wanted it to be some way of people connecting, because I didn't really think that the way people connect now is the most optimal way.”

Since the app is now developed, Rand is beginning to pivot toward the marketing side of things. He aims to start a paid ambassador program with students in different fraternities and sororities, give out free food on campus, and form a social media presence, among other outreach plans, to spread the word.

Nightclub will be live on March 27 and available to download for free on Apple only, but Rand hopes to eventually expand to Android. The first event will be Tuesday, April 2, to give students an opportunity to join the app.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Nightclub UF student creates dating and friendship app