Name: UMaine Crushes & Missed Connections
Website link: https://www.facebook.com/UMaine-Crushes-Missed-Connections-1684084733133…
Picture this: you’re sitting underneath a tree on the Mall trying to study for that dreaded Bio test you have later that day when all of a sudden a stranger passing by catches your eye. Wow who is that angel sent from Heaven? After trying to compose yourself, you find that the stranger is gone. In the hopes of maybe finding this mystery person and/or just because you feel the need to compliment this individual, you turn to the UMaine Crushes & Missed Connections page.
Founded in March of 2013, the Facebook page allows you to anonymously submit a post about your said crush, missed connection, or individual in which you want to compliment. From there, your post is then looked over by the admins of the page and then published on their page where, hopefully, your individual will see the post. These Internet cupids have not only caught our eye, but also about 7,100+ other people who have “liked” their Facebook page. We reached out to the masterminds behind this popular page and were lucky enough to score an interview with one of their representatives.
How did the page get started?
The page was actually handed down to me by some graduated seniors. They had gotten the idea from other University “Crushes” Facebook pages that they had seen and thought it would be a good idea to bring that to our beautiful campus!
What is the intended goal for the page?
The goal of our page is simply to spread the love in every form it comes in. There are many social factors that contribute positively and negatively to complimenting something or mentioning a missed connection to someone in person. Over social media, such as through our Facebook page, [we feel as though] the posts are taken a bit more genuinely, as they should be!
Do you have to filter posts? If so, how do you go about that process?
My staff and I have met common ground on a personal filter for the crushes and missed connections that come in that help support our goal-it’s not something linked to Facebook, it’s based on our own discretion.
How many submissions do you think you receive per day?
Submissions come in higher during the holidays and typically are lower during test weeks, but on an average we probably receive about 25-40 submissions per day. Before Christmas break last year though, we had received between 105 and 115 submissions within a 24-hour time span.
What’s one of the most outrageous crushes/missed connections that you’ve posted?
It definitely depends on someone’s definition of outrageous! We’ve put up crushes that get many likes and views, missed connections that make people uncomfortable and sadly in turn get taken down, as well as posts that people have argued on. As far as posts that have very explicit and erotic content that really aren’t appropriate for the public go, let’s just say we get that here and there and for obvious reasons we don’t post them.
Do you know of any success stories that occurred in result of your postings?
Early in this school year there was actually a submission from a man that found his wife from a crush we posted 3 years ago! I personally have even seen consistent Crush MVPs that have taken to another person from their popularity on the page and are still in relationships. It’s really cool to see that we can be an important bridge, of a sort, in people’s lives. Also, simple praise to someone for achieving an athletic feat, or an academic achievement has gotten our page thank yous. Even small businesses reach out for advertising (which we don’t do) knowing that we hold a power of social impression upon the campus. It really is incredible to see how we have affected the everyday life of our campus and Orono area.
Do you have any advice for your readers?
My advice to anyone reading this would simply be, don’t take the power of a crush or missed connection for granted, so post often! Even if it’s a simple compliment on attire, character, or whatever is appealing. It really does make a difference to everyone’s day when there’s more positivity and love on campus!