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Show HN: JellyChip – social networking for a cause

8 points by Leafmew 11y ago

pedalpete 11y ago
Is this really a social network? You're doing 'social networking for social good', why wouldn't you say that. Though I'll admit, from your home page, I don't completely get it and am not enticed enough to sign-up. I'm curious, why does the cartoon of a guy on your homepage have two shades of brown to his hair? It looks odd, and at first I thought he was wearing a kippah, and then looking at the quite covered girl, I thought maybe it was a religious site... hope that helps.
- Leafmew 11y ago
  Hey pedalpete, yes I'm really trying to build a social network. It's at the most basic state but there are a number of social elements I would consider 'social networking' (profiles, friend requests, chat). 'Social networking for social good' is referenced on our social media and help center - hope that helps. All good about not being enticed to sign up! Thanks for the feedback though - will take it on board.
empressplay 11y ago
I'd personally be a lot more comfortable using the site if you guys were a not-for-profit -- it's hard to know what percentage of the fees charged for surveys actually translate through to what the users donate. Without that transparency I think you'll find it hard convincing people to use the site regularly.
- empressplay 11y ago
  Also and IANAL but as someone who lives in Victoria part of me really thinks you should have an actual lawyer go over your business model and just make sure you're kosher. I'd worry that there could be an interpretation that you're de-facto contracting employees, since you're effectively paying people to fulfil a service you're on-selling (the surveys) by allowing them to 'spend' the money on 'gifts' (to a charity, true, but I'm not sure it matters.) It may all be cool, but you really do want to be 100% certain about that.
  - Leafmew 11y ago
    Thanks empressplay - we've covered everything with our lawyers (well hopefully everything for now).
- Leafmew 11y ago
  Empressplay that's good feedback - right now I'm trying to play to the simple idea of "earn points and buy gifts." You earn points on JellyChip not just by answering surveys, but by performing activites like adding friends, chatting with friends, completing your profile, daily rewards, sharing the gifts bought etc. Surveys are the biggest point earnings but the site's focus is on earning points in a whole manner of ways. I made an app called Pocket Rice that's done quite well supporting the same notion - it's generated 146,188,800 grains of rice by users playing 1.827 million rounds of trivia. This means users have now fed 7,614 children across Uganda and Nigeria. Basically the entire profits of the app (minus iAP donations to me to keep it running) goes to World Vision who pay and distribute the rice. https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/pocket-rice/id666631544?mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/pocket-rice/id666631544?mt=8 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jamesdowning.pocketrice&hl=en https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jamesdowni... It's an interesting concept - the idea of earning an imaginary currency for social good – but I think it’s something unique and special that we can use to make a difference. I'm trying to take people away from this idea that charity involves gloomy financials, open percentage breakdowns and aenemic organisations that desperately shave the dollar to budget for causes that far outweigh their capabilities. For-profit organisations can generate charity as well – and I don’t think organisations should feel shy about wanting to incorporate some social good into their profit-making business, no matter what the extent. I think the idea of “charity” can be redefined. Either way, the points that you do earn on the site you can spend on charitable gifts, which we buy. And that’s kinda it. Let’s make charity fun. So we'll see how we go with this ethos in JellyChip. Thanks for the feedback though - will bear this in mind as it makes an impact. James

8 points by Leafmew 11y ago

Is this really a social network? You're doing 'social networking for social good', why wouldn't you say that. Though I'll admit, from your home page, I don't completely get it and am not enticed enough to sign-up. I'm curious, why does the cartoon of a guy on your homepage have two shades of brown to his hair? It looks odd, and at first I thought he was wearing a kippah, and then looking at the quite covered girl, I thought maybe it was a religious site... hope that helps.

Leafmew 11y ago
Hey pedalpete, yes I'm really trying to build a social network. It's at the most basic state but there are a number of social elements I would consider 'social networking' (profiles, friend requests, chat). 'Social networking for social good' is referenced on our social media and help center - hope that helps. All good about not being enticed to sign up! Thanks for the feedback though - will take it on board.

empressplay 11y ago

I'd personally be a lot more comfortable using the site if you guys were a not-for-profit -- it's hard to know what percentage of the fees charged for surveys actually translate through to what the users donate. Without that transparency I think you'll find it hard convincing people to use the site regularly.

empressplay 11y ago
Also and IANAL but as someone who lives in Victoria part of me really thinks you should have an actual lawyer go over your business model and just make sure you're kosher. I'd worry that there could be an interpretation that you're de-facto contracting employees, since you're effectively paying people to fulfil a service you're on-selling (the surveys) by allowing them to 'spend' the money on 'gifts' (to a charity, true, but I'm not sure it matters.) It may all be cool, but you really do want to be 100% certain about that.
- Leafmew 11y ago
  Thanks empressplay - we've covered everything with our lawyers (well hopefully everything for now).
Leafmew 11y ago
Empressplay that's good feedback - right now I'm trying to play to the simple idea of "earn points and buy gifts." You earn points on JellyChip not just by answering surveys, but by performing activites like adding friends, chatting with friends, completing your profile, daily rewards, sharing the gifts bought etc. Surveys are the biggest point earnings but the site's focus is on earning points in a whole manner of ways. I made an app called Pocket Rice that's done quite well supporting the same notion - it's generated 146,188,800 grains of rice by users playing 1.827 million rounds of trivia. This means users have now fed 7,614 children across Uganda and Nigeria. Basically the entire profits of the app (minus iAP donations to me to keep it running) goes to World Vision who pay and distribute the rice. https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/pocket-rice/id666631544?mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/pocket-rice/id666631544?mt=8 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jamesdowning.pocketrice&hl=en https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jamesdowni... It's an interesting concept - the idea of earning an imaginary currency for social good – but I think it’s something unique and special that we can use to make a difference. I'm trying to take people away from this idea that charity involves gloomy financials, open percentage breakdowns and aenemic organisations that desperately shave the dollar to budget for causes that far outweigh their capabilities. For-profit organisations can generate charity as well – and I don’t think organisations should feel shy about wanting to incorporate some social good into their profit-making business, no matter what the extent. I think the idea of “charity” can be redefined. Either way, the points that you do earn on the site you can spend on charitable gifts, which we buy. And that’s kinda it. Let’s make charity fun. So we'll see how we go with this ethos in JellyChip. Thanks for the feedback though - will bear this in mind as it makes an impact. James