Design of CavQuest: A Scavenger Hunt Application for the University of Virginia; A Sociotechnical Analysis of TikTok Regulation

Digital technology can both promote and degrade personal growth and community wellbeing. Conscientious design and responsible regulation can raise the ratio of benefits to costs. CavQuest is a web application designed to engage University of Virginia students in a campus-wide scavenger hunt. This application was created to promote engagement and discovery within the campus surroundings and to improve student experiences and connections. The site uses Google login and Google Maps API, to enhance user interaction and improve navigation during the scavenger hunt, as well as an admin system for content approval. In multiple development sprints, the research team defined roles, gathered requirements, and implemented essential functionalities. Preliminary testing with students revealed insights into user experience, leading to iterative refinements of CavQuest. Future developments will add features and resolve identified bugs to ensure CavQuest serves as a fun and useful tool for student interaction and campus exploration. Social media has introduced new risks to mental health and personal privacy. Companies, users, parents, advocacies, and government agencies have responded to these hazards in diverse and sometimes inconsistent ways. Like other social media companies, TikTok favors self-regulation, offering features designed to protect users and thereby deflect pressures for stricter public oversight. In the absence of third-party regulations that hold companies accountable for the mental health effects of their platforms, there can be little prospect of significant improvement.