BewusstDigital was born from the conviction that digital devices should support us, not control us.
We accompany children and adults in using digital media meaningfully: at the right time, with appropriate content and in a measure that does good – instead of overwhelming.
We – Maria and Cyrill – have been friends for over 17 years. Cyrill may have significantly more PC gaming time under his belt than Maria, but he could always turn off the computer and put the phone away when he wanted to do something else. Maria also had a few gaming phases, but was usually more analog than Cyrill – never short on hobbies.
Until Instagram came.
At first, she didn't understand why anyone would watch these arbitrary short videos. The algorithm apparently hadn't found her taste yet. But at some point, there was a hilariously funny dog video, then a heart-wrenching one from the animal shelter, then a delicious recipe video – and suddenly she was also in the scroll loop.
Actually, she wanted to sew. Or jog. Or do yoga. Instead, it became “just briefly” Instagram. Then half an hour. Then the thought: “Now it’s not worth starting something else anymore.” And in between, always the same question again: “How can it be that I was on it for 30 minutes again, even though I only planned five?”
The problem was not that she didn't know how to put the phone away. The problem was also not technical – she knew how to delete apps, how to set timers, block URLs or use screen time-reducing tools.
The problem was – and is – that we try to use willpower against systems that are built precisely to keep us engaged for as long as possible. And at some point it became clear: If even we constantly outsmart ourselves here, then the problem doesn’t lie with individual people. And so Cyrill came up with the idea for BewusstDigital.
We asked ourselves: If it's already so difficult for us, how should it be for children or less technically affine people? Technical possibilities to restrict devices have long existed. But how do you keep track? And how do you prevent yourself from repeatedly outsmarting yourself, being outsmarted and still falling into every screen trap or grandchild scam?
So we dug into the research, tested technical solutions, compared approaches and additionally developed hobby counseling, to counter digital consumption with real, analog alternatives.
Today we support our customers in consciously deciding how present digital media should be in their everyday lives, and give them the tools to use technology meaningfully and at the same time find alternatives that fulfill them in the long term.
"Apps konkurrieren um Aufmerksamkeit – wir entscheiden, welchen Inhalten wir sie geben."
"Apps konkurrieren um Aufmerksamkeit – wir entscheiden, welchen Inhalten wir sie geben."
"Digital tools should serve us, not the other way around."
"Digital tools should serve us, not the other way around."