Journey Review

When you’re going through a tough or life changing time, having a support network is a huge help. That’s the thinking behind Journey - a social network aimed at those people fighting various disabilities, diseases, and general challenges in life. While it’s not the most active of social networks just yet, it does offer a ton of potential.

The sign up process is an immediate reminder that Journey is a different kind of social network. There are categories for ailments, as well as how they affect you, such as whether you’re afflicted or if you’re a carer or family member for someone involved. I also found it slightly reassuring, as a carer for someone with problems, that carers are treated equally to those directly affected.

Once you’re all signed up, Journey works much like a conventional social networking app. It can seek out people near your location or you can find like minded folk to follow. Different sections are available for submitting photos, posting daily thoughts, or asking questions. The latter is particularly handy when forming support, as we’ve all had questions that could do with answering by someone involved, rather than a medical professional who’s more likely to take a clinical approach to things. You can also easily check out what’s affecting someone you follow, which can partially work well as a kind of ice breaker - knowing that you have something in common.

Journey does a decent job of allowing you to keep things private too, if you so wish, or just amongst your friends. I do have some qualms about other safety features - namely due to the importance of vulnerable people feeling safe - but providing Journey is well moderated it could be a very helpful haven for many. If it continues to grow, it has all the right components to be an immensely helpful resource for those who want to feel a little less alone in their fight.

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