The Enclusiv bracelets signify that the wearer is open to a new friendship and person-to-person conversation in a world dominated by social media. (Courtesy of Coby Marcum)

Starting at a new school. Moving to a new town. Working a new job. These are all things that most people do in their lives, and each comes with its challenges. One of the most prominent challenges in each situation? Meeting new people.

SMU student Coby Marcum saw this first hand.

“One day I was in the Varsity, and I noticed that there were a lot of people eating alone. I would watch people come in, look around to see if there was anyone they knew, and when they didn’t see anyone they already knew, they would sit and eat alone,” Marcum said.

Marcum wanted to help, and it was there that he got the ideafor Enclusiv.

Enclusiv is a new type of social network, with a twist.

Instead of being online, members of Enclusiv wear green or orange wrist bands. In an era where most social interactions occur with likes and retweets, Enclusiv looks to bring back that person-to-person interaction.

The different colored wrist bands signify whether or not someone is 18. If you’re 18 or above, you’ll sport a green band. Anyone younger wears the orange.

The wrist bands signify a person who is open to new friendship, and someone is more than happy to have you join them for lunch and have a conversation.

“Initially, I thought it would be a good idea to do on campus. Then I started thinking about Texas, then about the U.S. and soon after, about the world,” Marcum said.

Even though Enclusiv hasn’t had its grand opening yet, bracelets are currently in, or have been requested in more than 10 countries.

“I hope that Enclusiv can help people around the world build new friendships,” Marcum said.

“That is the number one goal for Enclusiv, to make a positive difference in the lives of others, regardless of whether it is 20 people, or 20 million.”

The Enclusiv store launched in December 2012. See www.enclusiv.org for more information.