Social media forces people to create over-perfected versions of themselves to be portrayed in the best light, at least according to video maker Casey Neistat, the creator of a new social app called Beme.
The app basically takes the core values of Snapchat and strips away the ability to use things like filters and comments.
"Social media, it's supposed to be a digital version of who we are as people. Instead it's this highly sculpted, calibrated version of who we are, told through filters that make our eyes bluer, and carefully selected images to portray a version of who we are that doesn't really resemble the reality of things," says Neistat in a YouTube video. "My team and I, we've spent the last year plus building a new version of social. A new way to share. One that we feel bridges that uncanny valley."
Bemes are basically created by holding the phone to the user's chest with the camera facing outward. The proximity sensor determines that the device is being held close to the user, and begins capturing video. The idea here is that users don't have to take their eyes off what's happening in their real life, instead being able to focus on life while capturing moments to share. What's captured is shared, no editing or filters. And like Snapchat, once viewed, the videos disappear.
The way that it works does bring up a few issues. For example, without the ability to review or edit videos, the possibility of videos being taken by mistake and uploaded is higher.
Not everyone, however, can use Beme. Neistat is limiting access through unlock codes, which can periodically be found on Neistat's YouTube videos. Of course, many suggest that this is simply a way to create artificial buzz about the app online, as well as limiting the negative press that the app can get. Neistat himself has said that the first version of the app is a "hot mess" and that a number of issues will be fixed with an update to come next week.
Of course, there's also some question as to whether or not people want a social media app that portrays an unfiltered version of themselves. It's certainly not the app to kill Snapchat. If anything, its an app that is to be used for a different purpose than Snapchat, with Snapchat being more of a way to communicate to friends and Beme being more of a way to let people know about your day-to-day life.
