Flagged: A Generational App Created in 2025
Flagged is a satirical prototype app developed in response to cancel culture, a Gen Z-driven phenomenon where individuals are publicly shamed and "canceled" due to perceived offensive behavior, often amplified by social media.
As part of a project to address a generational issue through app design, I chose to tackle the complexities of cancel culture by creating a platform that centralizes and documents who has been flagged.
The app functions like a social media tool: users can see a running list of flagged individuals, who can then submit public apologies. The community votes on whether to accept them, and if enough approvals are received, the individual is removed from the list.
Designed to keep up with the fast-paced nature of online discourse, Flagged consolidates information usually scattered across platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit. It also serves as an archive, recognizing that while internet culture moves quickly, accountability shouldn’t be so easily forgotten.
My design draws inspiration from popular social media apps like TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram, but is tailored specifically to meet the needs of Flagged. I chose a color palette of black, white, and red to create a strong contrast and evoke a sense of urgency. Red and green are used intentionally as UX indicators, drawing on their universal associations with "bad" and "good" respectively.
The ombré effect surrounding the apology ratings is inspired by Instagram Stories, but in this case, it functions as a visual indicator of public response. If users see more red around a flagged individual’s story, they can quickly understand that most people are rejecting the apology. This red-green ombré system is applied consistently throughout the app to create a cohesive and intuitive user experience.
I designed this app using Figma, utilizing its prototyping features to simulate functionality. Each screen is built as a separate frame with interactive elements added to demonstrate user flow. All images used are sourced from Wikimedia Commons and are in the public domain.
Users with a Flagged account can submit content if they believe someone should be held accountable for their actions and have sufficient evidence to support the claim. If the submission is deemed credible, the individual in question may be added to the flagged list.
On this screen, you can see a submission currently under review by the Flagged team. If the user wishes to provide additional evidence, they can do so by selecting the "Upload" button.
