Street Social wins Rep. Moolenaar 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Michigan’s Second District
Rep. Moolenaar has named Hunter Domine, a 10th grader at Fremont High School, as the winner of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Michigan’s Second District.
When asked what inspired the creation of Street Social, the student said, “I was inspired to create this app because I believe that there is a need for a new social media platform that is more focused on community and conversation, and less on algorithms and advertising. I am also concerned about the direction that Twitter is heading in under Elon Musk’s leadership. I believe that Musk’s focus on profits will make Twitter/X a less welcoming and inclusive platform for many users.
My goal for this app is to create a space where people can come together to share their thoughts and ideas without fear of judgment or censorship. I want to create a platform that is focused on real conversation, not just self-promotion. I also want to create a platform that is accessible to everyone, regardless of their income or background.
I believe that the current social media landscape is broken. Platforms like Twitter/X and Facebook are more interested in keeping users engaged than in promoting healthy discourse. They do this by using algorithms to show users content that is likely to keep them scrolling, even if that content is divisive or harmful.
I believe that there is a better way. I believe that we can create a social media platform that is focused on community and conversation, and that is still profitable. I believe that we can create a platform that is a force for good in the world.”
This year’s Challenge saw an unprecedented level of participation, with 374 Members of the House of Representatives hosting competitions, surpassing the previous record of 340. A remarkable 11,334 students from across the United States competed in this year’s Challenge, marking an impressive increase of nearly 1,000 participants compared to the previous record set in 2019. The enthusiasm and creativity these students display is a testament to the growing interest in technology and signal a bright future for American innovation. The surge of ingenuity continued with a whopping 3,645 original applications flooding in, nearly a thousand more than the previous year’s high. This remarkable growth showcases the exceptional talent and innovation within our nation’s youth.
The Congressional App Challenge is an official initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives, where Members of Congress host contests in their districts for middle school and high school students, encouraging them to learn to code and inspiring them to pursue careers in computer science. This resounding show of bipartisan support emphasizes the critical importance of STEM education in today’s rapidly evolving world. Each participating Member of Congress selects a winning app from their district, and each winning team is invited to showcase their winning app to Congress during our annual #HouseOfCode festival.