Beside: A web app for everyday micro-connections

Stating I am here for you is effortless for many individuals, yet figuring out what specific form of assistance to offer next often proves to be much more challenging. To bridge this gap, a developer has created Beside, an application designed to translate well-meaning intentions into compact and specific actions, such as lending a listening ear, providing quiet company, offering practical help, or simply saying a gentle hello after a period of separation.

Coinciding with Suicide Prevention Month in September, the project explores how everyday generosity can manifest through simple human connection. Giving someone a small portion of your time and attention serves as a meaningful act of kindness, and Beside aims to guide users toward assistance offers they can reliably follow through on.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

The platform equips users with over 42 distinct gestures, straightforward steps, and customizable messages while ensuring the recipient always has the freedom to politely decline. Users begin by selecting options they are comfortable with, such as indicating they are unsure where to start or open to ideas, without needing to share names or personal stories.

The next phase involves choosing what can realistically be offered, such as setting a ten-minute duration from a distance with zero budget. The database processes these parameters to return tailored suggestions, allowing users to select options like asking a single open question followed by attentive listening, complete with editable message templates ready to be copied into standard messaging applications.