Welcome to my regularly programmed digital-experience analysis. I spend a lot of time learning about digital trends, apps, social, and the user expectations. First: There’s a new app on the scene (and no, we aren’t talking about Threads today, but we can follow each other there, too - @aubbae). 

Bumble BFF: Known as a form of Tinder for finding relationships>just sex, Bumble is an online dating and networking app. Initially released in 2014, the app was founded to ‘challenge the antiquated rules of dating’. The Bumble BFF ‘find friends’ functionality was once nested within Bumble Dating. BFF will now take shape on its own app, dedicating to helping you “find your kinda people”. The experience serves as a positive reminder of the pros of connection + that “platonic soulmates do exist.”

Express Yourself: With the evolution of digital media comes an evolution of self expression. Take emojis. Recently, Diego’s dad started using emojis. Pops was a 70s era criminal defense lawyer, among a lifetime of other epics, and turns 80 this September. I love imagining his personal journey into using these small faces and shrunk-down symbols of everyday things; Squinting to pick just the right mode of expression, and tapping his large pointer finger ever-so-lightly to select the one.

But what’s the future of visual shorthand like this? How will technology like VR headsets impact the way we connect with others - via handsfree messaging, or…? What’s the next iteration of emoji keyboards, bitmojis and work avatars?