Online platform for creating a virtual yearbook with recorded messages

March 13, 2020 9:42 AM

The graduating seniors at my small seminary are experiencing an additional layer of disappointment and sadness right now as a result of our campus going online-only and (likely) cancelling commencement ceremonies. I would like to create a place for members of our school community, family, and friends to post videos and audio and text messages for them as a way of making up a little bit of what they won't get to experience.

What are some possible platforms for putting this together? I prefer not to use Facebook, and also want to make it as simple as possible for the technologically-disinclined to contribute without necessarily having to post everything manually myself (meaning I could probably cobble something together in WordPress, but based on past projects I know that this would involve spending much more time than I currently have). It would be nice if the entire thing, as well as individual pages within the thing, could be password protected. Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

posted by notquitemaryann to Technology (4 answers total)

Response by poster: If your school has used one of the advertised virtual yearbook platforms, I would love to hear about your experience. I have very little budget available for this and although I could very likely get my school on board to contribute, I would need to be able to make a strong case. Also any platform that charges recurring fees past the initial cost would probably not be approved.
posted by notquitemaryann at 9:47 AM on March 13, 2020

Response by poster: Also anything that charges users for access is right out. (shutting up now)
posted by notquitemaryann at 9:48 AM on March 13, 2020

Tumblr is easy peasy, has all the categories you mention, and last I checked they had an option for password protection.
posted by spamandkimchi at 10:34 PM on March 13, 2020 [1 favorite]

Use Google Slides! I'm serious. If you make it globally editable then people can add images, video, embed audio. You can have multiple pages, change the style, etc.

It's free, can handle a lot of users, easily viewable, easily exportable to PowerPoint or other formats, etc.
posted by many more sunsets at 10:24 AM on March 14, 2020 [1 favorite]