Chirp: Social Mood Tracker

Functionality & Mechanism

Chirp is an emoji-based social mood tracking application developed as part of a research study at Brown University. It enables users to share emoji-based posts about their daily moods and emotions within group settings or anonymously in a public feed. The application functions as a mood journal, allowing users to track their emotional expressions over time and interact with other users through supportive reactions.

Evidence & Research Context

• Initial research evidence indicates mixed findings regarding Chirp's impact on social support.
• In a between-subjects study, Chirp use did not demonstrate a significant increase in measured feelings of social support among a cohort of first-year undergraduate students.
• User responses within the study suggested that self-disclosure on Chirp might offer more social support compared to typical social media use or basic mood tracking over a two-week period.
• The study, published in the peer-reviewed Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction (CSCW), explored the effects of self-disclosure within semi-private online spaces on social support.

Intended Use & Scope

Chirp is intended for individuals interested in tracking their moods and engaging in social self-disclosure through an emoji-based platform. It facilitates emotional expression and peer interaction within a semi-anonymous online environment. The app does not provide clinical interventions or professional mental health support, and users experiencing significant emotional distress should seek guidance from qualified healthcare professionals.