The spark
Feeling more disconnected than connected
Digging into the impact of social media for a business studies assignment, I realised how endless feeds deliver noise but little meaning. Friends shared the same numbness.
Why LiteByte exists
Born from a simple question: what if social media actually made us feel closer?
LiteByte started in a dorm room when homework research revealed how disconnected our own community had become. We set out to build a calmer, local-first platform that restores real connection for schools, businesses, and neighbours.
1 dorm spark
Born from a Lancing College assignment on social media.
2 builders
Oscar researching and shaping vision, Sebastian coding prototypes.
1 shared mission
Give schools, businesses, and neighbours a calmer digital space.
Our intention
Every feature we build must reduce noise and strengthen trust.
LiteByte is designed for announcements that matter, stories that stay accessible, and communities that thrive when the right people see the right context.
Research-ledProduct-craftedCommunity-tested
What pushed us forward
Our story is still unfolding, but here is how it started.
Momentum
Running to find the right collaborator
I sprinted into Sebastian Khan Hummel's room to pitch the idea. We weren't close yet, but his passion for thoughtful product design matched the urgency I was feeling.
Focus
Making every feature earn its place
We spent late nights outlining what a safer, local-first social experience should feel like. Research, wireframes, and prototypes fused into what became LiteByte.
Research-backed urgency
The data matched our instincts.
Diving into reports validated the feeling that social media's promise had fractured. LiteByte blends those learnings with thoughtful product decisions so communities get clarity instead of chaos.
Pew Research Center
Digital overwhelm breeds loneliness.
Reports on social media's hollow engagement confirmed that feeling isolated behind a screen wasn't just a dorm-room worry; it was global.
Harvard Education Review
Connected communities thrive.
Research shows engaged schools and neighbourhoods perform better. Structure plus warmth leads to people showing up.
Edelman Trust Barometer
Trust is fragile but rebuildable.
Jonathan Haidt's 'The Anxious Generation' and trust data made it clear: we needed a moderated, human space for updates that matter.
The journey
1
Spring 2024
Homework assignment becomes a mirror
Researching social media's impact for class revealed how little real connection the big platforms were delivering for our own friends.
A simple prompt turned into a personal mission.
2
Summer 2024
Partnering with Sebastian
A corridor pitch led to nights diagramming product flows. I doubled down on research while Sebastian translated the vision into code.
Two different skill sets, one shared obsession.
3
Summer 2024
Validating with deep research
We pored over Pew, Harvard, Edelman, and Jonathan Haidt to make sure LiteByte solved the loneliness, trust, and transparency gaps.
Proof that the problem was everywhere, not just on campus.
4
2024 - Today
Prototyping into a platform
We refined every flow to ensure LiteByte helps schools, teams, and businesses share timely, human updates without the chaos.
A platform with a mission: reconnect local communities.
What we believe
LiteByte operates on three guiding principles.
Local-first storytelling
LiteByte prioritises nearby voices over viral noise so every update feels grounded and actionable.
Human moderation
Verified contributors and transparent permissions keep conversations safe, trusted, and relevant.
Calm by design
We intentionally strip away vanity metrics and distraction loops to highlight meaningful touchpoints.
LiteByte isn't just an app. It's a commitment to help schools, businesses, and communities reconnect with the people right beside them. The journey has been filled with research, collaboration, and growth, and we're just getting started.
Oscar Belgeonne