Perri Pace, an Eastern Michigan University sophomore, uses the same social media platform every day. It isn't Instagram, though, or X, Snapchat or one of the other chart-topping services of the past two decades.
Pace uses the EMU EagleApp, the university's official social media platform.
Formerly known as EMU Engage, the EagleApp was developed by Ready Education, a Massachusetts-based software company that creates similar campus engagement applications for institutions across the country. On its website, the company lists Cornell University, Boston University School of Law and Johns Hopkins University among its clients.
Eastern's app started development in 2018, data manager Tracey Sonntag said in a written statement. Sonntag is associate director for data at the Holman Success Center, which manages the EagleApp. Sonntag also serves as the EagleApp administrator.
As of Nov. 11, 2025, the EagleApp recorded 848 new downloads for the fall semester, Sonntag said, in a report provided by Melissa Thrasher in the university's communications office. Thrasher is the executive director of media relations for the university.
Sonntag also reported that the number of active users averages between 800 and 900 a day.
The EagleApp allows students to preview their current classes, discover upcoming events and get connected with various resources. The app also includes a social media feature that can be accessed by students and faculty alike. So far during the fall 2025 semester, users created 2,573 posts, 3,772 comments, 25,000 likes and 4,402 direct messages, Sonntag said.
A pie chart illustrates the 10 most clicked tiles on the Eastern Michigan University EagleApp during the fall 2025 semester as of Nov. 11, 2025. The chart was created using meta-chart.com using information given by Tracey Sonntag.
The app's interface allows for posts to be made in a variety of channels, such as Lost & Found, Buy & Sell, Ride Sharing and a Student Feed channel that serves as a general forum for discussion. The posts on the app vary widely, with students asking and answering questions about college life and logistics, promoting events, sharing jokes and memes and airing grievances about various topics. It is also used to share thoughts and opinions on politics and current events.
Dawn Reaume, an art major at Eastern Michigan, has mixed feelings about the app.
"I would call the EagleApp our campus's Twitter," Reaume said. "It is full of drama and full of politics and full of, honestly, a lot of hate. But then there's some cool stuff. There's sometimes cool people just posting stuff they see on campus."
Pace echoed Reaume's thoughts on the negative aspects of the platform's culture.
"When it comes to the posts that are made regarding the political world, I think that people can be really, really defensive about standing where they stand politically," Pace said in an audio message. "It gets really aggressive, and I know these are not conversations that we're having in person with these people whenever we decide to make a post about something like, for instance ... Trump or Kamala."
Students react to anti-abortion demonstrators in this Oct. 4, 2025, post on Eastern Michigan University's EagleApp.
"It does have a lot of problems, whether that be the lack of control towards harassment ... generally, it's not a very strict platform," Reaume said.
"The Campus Wall is community-moderated," Sonntag said. "Any user is able to flag a post or comment for moderation review by the Holman Success Center. If a post or comment receives three or more flags, it is automatically hidden until either approved or deleted. We respect our students' right to free speech and will only delete posts that violate the student code of conduct (threats, academic dishonesty or attempts to buy or sell illicit substances)."
A post on the EMU Engage app, created by the Holman Success Center, reminds students of their responsibilities in terms of public discourse on the social media platform.
Despite the tension around certain topics, Reaume and Pace both said the app is a great way to keep students connected on campus.
"I've been on this app every single day," Pace said. "It got to the point where even my professors in class were like, 'Are you guys on this app? Perri is hilarious! Perri is trolling these people! Perri doing this, that and the third.' So like, I am chronically on this app."
Pace also spoke about her experience using the app to source mutual aid from the EMU community.
"The other day, I was short on my medication, and my insurance got cut. This is the second time my insurance got cut this year, earlier back in January and this time now, and people came through for me," Pace said. "They sent me money, which I greatly appreciated 'cause I was able to make that bill and get my medication that I needed. When it comes to community, I feel like that piece is strong."
Perri Pace, a sophomore at EMU, posts on the EMU EagleApp to thank the community for providing grassroots financial aid after she had previously posted about needing money to pay for her medications.
Reaume said the EagleApp also provides a unique opportunity for students running their own businesses.
"I've seen a lot of people actually get a good customer base through the app, which they wouldn't have got otherwise," Reaume said.
In response to a question about the possibility of future support for voice memos on the app, Sonntag said that while she is currently unaware of plans for that to happen, the university will be "piloting a fully revamped system in the winter term to have it ready for Fall 2026."
"This new and improved platform will also help us manage all student organizations and on-campus event attendances," Sonntag said.
Reaume said the app is also useful for meeting new people.
"It's a really useful database for those who might not have a lot of friends on campus," Reaume said. "I would encourage anybody to look into it, because I mean, you'll know where the sidewalk chalk is, that's for sure."
The EMU EagleApp is available to download on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
