“Everyone deserves authentic friendships.”
That’s the simple yet compelling reason Julianna Fetherman built the social media app Making Authentic Friendships.
“My younger brother Michael has ADHD and autism,” Julianna said in an interview earlier this year. “Because his social skills are limited, he finds it hard to make friends and he was really lonely.”
Seeing the struggles Michael lives with every day, she was inspired to help him find a way to connect and build real friendships. This led her to develop MAF (it stands for Michael Andrew Fetherman) when she was in college.
“MAF is for anyone who has trouble making friends because of the way they were born,” Julianna says.
The app matches potential friends based on location, age, interests and diagnosis. “MAF is for anyone with a special need, whether that’s intellectual, developmental or physical.”
With 15% of the global population living with a disability, Julianna has found a warm reception to her idea. And Michael absolutely lights up when he talks about the app, saying “It’s exciting to have friends that care about you.”
“Making friends can be so difficult for people with disabilities,” Julianna continues. “We felt it was important to create an experience that was part of a ‘virtual world,’ to encourage people to come back and make even more connections.”
The app is structured more like a game interface than a typical social media platform, with users navigating their way around a map of their local area and connecting with people along the way. There are also ways for friends to connect in real time, with suggested “fun spots” on the map so friends can make plans to meet in the community for a movie, dinner, or other shared interest.
Because social media can be a risky place, and can be especially challenging for people with IDD, safety was a primary concern while the app was being built.
“There are several safety checks during the sign-up process,” she explains, “so we know that people are exactly who they say they are.”
The app provides safety tips for users, and continually monitors chats for inappropriate content. It also offers users the ability to report anyone who makes them feel uncomfortable in any way.
While developing the concept, Julianna quickly realized that creating a working app was expensive. She turned to iFundWomen to raise the money needed to develop and launch her passion project.
The idea has spread quickly. MAF has been featured in several media outlets, including Forbes, Entrepreneur, and the Lifetime Network. Julianna embraces these opportunities to reach a wider audience with her message, and has served on panels encouraging entrepreneurism, especially for young women.
Still, the real reason behind everything she does is Michael. “I’ve seen him grow and expand his world, and nothing makes me happier.”
Connect with MAF on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. The app is available on Google Play and Apple’s App Store. Learn more at MakingAuthenticFriendships.com.
