It all began one evening, sitting in my dorm at Lancing College, working on a business studies homework assignment. The task was simple enough—research the impact of social media on modern life. As I dove into the topic, though, I began to feel something I hadn’t expected. I had always been aware of the global reach of social media, how it connected people from all corners of the earth, but as I reflected more, I realized something troubling.

Despite the connections, the posts, the updates, I felt more disconnected than ever. Social media, for all its promises of bringing people together, felt like it was doing the opposite. It had become a cycle of endless scrolling, fleeting interactions, and a lot of noise—but not much meaningful connection.

I wasn’t the only one who felt this way. Many of my friends shared the same frustrations. We were all living in a world of digital interactions, but somehow, we were growing more distant from each other. And yet, no one seemed to be talking about it. That’s when it hit me that there must be a better way.

What if there was a platform that could create real, local connections without the negativity, without the pressure to present a perfect life? What if people could come together, share ideas, and feel a genuine sense of community? I realized that I could create something to fix these issues.

Just as this idea was beginning to take shape, I ran into the room of someone I knew in the corridor—Sebastian Khan Hummel. We weren’t close friends at the time, but we had exchanged a few words over the past months regarding his efforts in app design and coding. I pitched him the idea right there, and like me he was excited, sharing the same passion for solving the problem.

From that moment, we started working together. I would research, develop the concept, and refine the vision. Sebastian took on the coding side, drafting prototypes and filling in the technical gaps. As we spent more time together, we went from casual collaborators to great friends.

But for me, the idea wasn’t just about building an app—it was about solving a real problem. I wanted to understand the bigger picture, so I started diving deep into research. I read reports like the Pew Research Center’s study on digital disconnect, the Harvard Education Review’s findings on the impact of community engagement, and the Edelman Trust Barometer, combining this with valuable insights from Jonathan Haidt’s book “The Anxious Generation”. What I found was eye-opening. The research showed how this wasn’t just mine and my friends personal experience, social media for all its supposed connectivity, had led to significantly greater isolation and detrimental mental health issues. People were becoming more disconnected from their local communities, despite being more "connected" than ever online.

This wasn’t just about creating another app; it was about restoring trust, connection, and a sense of belonging. It became clear that LiteByte could be the solution. We weren’t just building a platform—we were creating a movement to change the way people interacted online.

Sebastian and I spent countless nights coding, testing, and refining LiteByte. Together, we filled in every gap, ensuring that every feature served a real purpose. What started as an idea scribbled in a notebook had become a platform with a mission: to bring communities together, to offer a space where people could engage meaningfully, and to replace the negativity of traditional social media with a trusted, safe environment.

And here we are today. What began as a simple reflection during a homework assignment has transformed into a platform that’s helping schools, businesses, and communities reconnect. LiteByte isn’t just an app—it’s a chance to build stronger, more inclusive communities that thrive together.

This journey has been one of learning, collaboration, and growth. And as I look ahead, I know this is just the beginning. The journey to bring people closer, to make the world feel a little less disconnected, is only getting started.

Oscar Belgeonne