TRUTH or Dare can be a daunting game, but a new free app for teens has made the game a fun opportunity for teens to connect through challenges and consequences.
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Goalzie, created by Young and Well Co-operative Research Centre, with youth collaborators connects young people to each other and themselves.
“It’s pretty cool, trying to really get us, not bond, but get together and sort of work each other out,” year 12 Macintyre High School student Emily Cairns said.
Emily and classmate Sarah Flick gave the app a whirl on Wednesday morning when the school’s head teacher for welfare, Brett Newton, asked if they might trial it.
“When Mr Newton came and got us this morning and showed us and we downloaded it, we talked for a solid 10 minutes before going to class about it, just laughing about it, imagining the consequences that people would have to do,” Emily said.
“I find it a more fun way to connect; you’re not embarrassing anyone, and they can always reject to do it.”
At first I thought it would be pretty cheesy, but then I started looking at it and going though everything and actually found it pretty cool.
- Emily Cairns
The app sets fun or silly challenges for one friend to another, and personal goals to meet.
Challenges are endless, and range from donating old clothes to charity, drawing a portrait of your challenger with your opposite hand, including a heart emoji in every text sent, learning five yoga poses or staying off Facebook for a day.
“At first I thought it would be pretty cheesy, but then I started looking at it and going though everything and actually found it pretty cool,” Emily said.
Tied to the challenge is a consequence if the person fails to meet the dare.
“You can pick its like, post a silly selfie as your profile pic for the day record yourself singing and dancing to ‘Single Ladies’,” Sarah laughed.
“I think Sarah sent me one saying I had to record a video saying why she’s so great and send it to her,” Emily said with a grin.
Macintyre’sBrett Newton said the app encouraged students to think about each other and themselves.
“The whole thing is about their well-being, it says on there, and being able to talk to some one,” he said.
Goalzie can be downloaded for Apple and android from www.goalzie.com.au.