July/1/2025
The initial phase of Project 1 was conducted through an online platform. This platform utilized a research-supported matching algorithm designed to connect individuals across age groups based on shared interests and compatibility indicators. Despite its structured design, our analysis revealed that trust was the most significant barrier to meaningful relationship formation in the online environment. While various interpersonal and contextual factors were at play, the inability to establish trust remotely emerged as the primary limitation.
Additionally, it was observed that many participants were unfamiliar with the concept of fictive kinship and often confused it with friendship. This lack of awareness highlighted the need for clearer definitions and education regarding the distinctions between chosen family relationships and conventional friendships.
Although the platform remains operational, the project has since shifted its focus.
We are currently examining the development of fictive kin and chosen family relationships in in-person, community-based contexts. This phase of the project aims to investigate the social, emotional, and environmental conditions that facilitate the emergence of these voluntary, non-biological support networks. By studying how such relationships are initiated and sustained in physical settings.
~ Manjil