A Lincoln woman is hoping to give Nebraska athletes a place to hear from fans without the negativity that can come with social media. Dawn Weir recently launched “Compliments for Change,” an app designed to let fans leave positive messages for individual athletes, coaches or entire teams.
Weir said the idea came from seeing how quickly fan support can turn to criticism when an athlete makes a mistake. “We’re always supportive of them when they do good, and then, of course, one bad kick, one bad throw, and we don’t like them, but we do love them,” Weir tells KLIN News. “This is just to make them feel good all the time.”
Unlike traditional social media, Weir said the app is intended to be a positive-only space. She personally monitors the platform and removes negative comments. Users can select a game, find individual players or coaches and leave a compliment for them or the entire team. The app also allows users to create public or private walls for groups outside of sports.
Weir says her concern grew after meeting young athletes and seeing the impact mistakes could have on them. “The sadness that comes over their face when something happens, or they have a bad play, or they miss a kick, it’s very hard,” Weir says. “These kids were in high school. I mean, they’re young, and that’s a lot of pressure on somebody.”
Weir launched the app in time for Nebraska’s first football game of the season. She said 817 people visited the app that day, generating 49 compliments for football players. Nebraska volleyball players had received about 30 compliments as of Wednesday’s interview.
Weir hopes more Nebraska fans will join the effort. “I’m looking forward to complimenting all of Nebraska,” Weir says. “We are the heartland, and we should give the love from our heart to our athletes.”
Click here to access the app.