In a world where online platforms can feel like loud, unregulated free-for-alls, R.M. Easterly is building something radically different: a social media platform rooted in intentionality, community, and safety.

Easterly is the founder and CEO of Byio, a groundbreaking social platform that is not only Black-woman-founded but also Black-woman-owned. Together with co-founder and Head of Community & Moderation Cam Cochren, and founding team member Sasheen Murray, Easterly is designing a digital space where users are encouraged to slow down, connect authentically, and be thoughtful about the content they share.

How Byio Works: Exclusive, Intentional, and AI-Smart

At first glance, Byio feels familiar—users can create profiles, share posts, engage in conversations, and follow friends. But Easterly, who proudly calls herself Byio’s “chief problem solver,” is quick to stress that it’s not “just another social app.”

Byio is invite-only, and every new user receives two invitations to share, keeping the platform’s growth controlled and intentional. “The idea is to grow the community thoughtfully, not just chase downloads,” says Easterly to BET.

Its AI-forward moderation tools are designed to encourage reflection before posting, not to punish.

 “If you’re about to post something harmful or inflammatory, the system might ask you to pause and think before you hit send,” Cochren says. “It’s not about censorship. It’s about giving users a moment to decide if this is how they want to show up.”

This proactive approach is paired with human oversight. Murray, who leads Byio’s Trusting Clients team, emphasized that community care is at the core of every feature. “We train our moderation team to understand cultural context so Black voices aren’t silenced just for speaking plainly,” she said. “That’s been a pain point on other platforms.” 

How Byio was Born

Byio was born out of a frustration many Black users know well, watching their voices, content, and culture either go ignored, flagged, or outright erased by traditional social media platforms.

“We got tired of waiting for the industry to create a space that works for us,” Easterly says. “Black creators and communities have powered every major platform, but we’re still the first to get shadow-banned or targeted when we speak truth to power. Byio flips that dynamic; we put the community first.”

Cochren echoes this sentiment, pointing out that Byio’s development process included countless conversations with Black creators, mental health experts, and digital safety advocates. “We asked ourselves: What would a platform look like if it cared for its people?” Cochren said. “And then we built that.”

Safety Without Surveillance

One of Byio’s most innovative aspects is its balance between safety and freedom. “We don’t want users to feel like they’re being watched by Big Brother,” Cochren said. “But we do want them to feel like they’re in a place where harassment and abuse aren’t tolerated. Those two things can co-exist.” 

Easterly added, “We’ve all seen how unchecked virality can destroy lives. Byio is about slowing that cycle down—giving space for nuance and actual conversation.”

What’s Happening With TikTok—And Why It Matters

This fall, a framework agreement was announced to transfer TikTok’s U.S. operations from ByteDance (its China-based parent) to a U.S.-led ownership group. Under that plan, U.S. investors—including Oracle, Silver Lake, and Andreessen Horowitz—would take an 80% stake in the U.S. entity, with ByteDance retaining less than 20%.

Even more, some of the new leaders are known to be right-leaning, both in terms of ownership networks and political positioning. This has raised concerns about how content moderation, algorithm control, and data oversight could shift under this kind of ownership. Critics fear the platform may tilt in its policies or become less protective of marginalized voices in pursuit of broader national or political agendas.

Easterly pointed out that the most popular social media platforms are owned by entities that influence what gets amplified, what gets suppressed, and whose safety is prioritized—especially in Black communities. That’s exactly why Easterly says she works so hard and pours her own capital into Byio.

A Platform Built for the Future, and for Us

Although still in its early rollout, Byio has attracted interest from potential high-profile investors, creators, and community organizers eager to see a platform designed for—and by—marginalized voices. Although Easterly says she can’t offer names, she confirmed that celebrities have also expressed their interest in supporting, which speaks to how critical the need for digital safes is right now. 

“Social media should feel like home,” Murray says. “You should feel like you can show up as your full self without worrying you’ll be harassed, ignored, or taken out of context.”

Easterly sees Byio as part of a larger movement to reclaim the internet as a tool for empowerment. 

“We are proof that Black women can lead the next chapter of social media,” she says. “Byio is not just an app, it’s a statement. We’re saying we belong here, we deserve to be safe here, and we’re building the space ourselves.”

What’s Next for Byio

The team is taking a measured approach to growth, focusing on onboarding users who understand and respect the platform’s values. Plans include expanding AI features to support mental health check-ins, partnerships with Black-owned brands and creators, and offline community events to bridge the digital divide.

“We want to build this platform the right way, not the fastest way,” Easterly says. “The future of the internet should be thoughtful, inclusive, and intentional. That’s what Byio is here to deliver.”