USU students create ‘a social media app that’s actually social’

Mykell Johnson came up with an idea in her entrepreneurship class in summer 2019: a centralized place to get updates on events in Cache Valley.

At the time, she didn’t know how to make it a reality. Her expertise was mostly concentrated on the business side of things.

That is, until she met Kollin Murphy and Canyon Bryson. 

Bryson and Johnson were in the same church group in 2021 when Johnson shared her idea for an app showcasing events around the area. 

Bryson, majoring in computational math, liked the idea and decided to join with Murphy who’s studying computer science. The two had previously created an app together and had the background to make BluJay Events a reality.

“We’ve been working since then,” Bryson said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”

According to the team, the app encourages social connection, especially after an isolating experience such as the pandemic.

Instead of having to search multiple websites and social media profiles, people can find things to do in one place.

“This makes it easier on both sides,” Bryson said. “Both for them to advertise and for us students to learn about events.”

Pictured is USU students Clayre Scott and Emma Epperson in front of Old Main

On March 30, the team launched their marketing campaign. Having recently uploaded the app on the Google Play Store and the Apple Store, BluJay Events is now ready to be used by the community.

As of now, Johnson inputs all of the app’s events manually.

“If I’m walking on campus and I see all those lawn signs that say there’s a concert at the Eccles Theatre — I’ll take pictures of them and then when I get home, I’ll put it on the app,” Johnson said.

Johnson also scours the internet for events around Cache Valley to include. However, the team just hired someone whose sole responsibility is to find events around the area.

“We want to make sure there’s a good quantity of events on there so that it’s actually useful for people,” Johnson said.

With the app’s new marketing launch, the team has begun focusing more intently on building their network.

“We have an ambassador team we’re building,” Bryson said. 

The app’s main goal is to give people the opportunity to go to events they may not have been aware of previously. Especially events put on by smaller clubs and organizations.

“I hope it increases attendance at a lot of events,” Johnson said.

There have been several times when Johnson has heard of events after the fact. Such as when she has asked her friends about their weekend and they talk about a function they went to.

“I want that to not happen because people have BluJay,” Johnson said.

One of the app’s slogans is “a social media app that’s actually social.” The team hopes to create a place that encourages social interaction in the real world rather than social isolation.

According to Johnson, many social media apps breed isolation. Although they are marketed as “social,” they rely on virtual sociality — people watching other people be social through a device.

However, Johnson said BluJay Events is different. It encourages people to be social by providing a place for people to find fun things to do.

“We want people to use our app,” Johnson said, “and then use that as an excuse to get out of the house.”