How we research and write

The BeSeen blog is written by the team at MBOA, Inc., the company that makes BeSeen, a couple mood journal for iPhone. This page explains where our advice comes from, how we talk about our own app and other apps, and what to do if you find a mistake.

Where the advice comes from#

When a post makes a claim about how people or relationships work, we link the source next to the claim so you can check it. We prefer, in order: peer-reviewed research, the published work of licensed therapists and relationship researchers, and guidance from public health bodies. We say how strong the evidence is: a lab study with strangers is not a study of couples, and we tell you when that is the case.

We also read what couples say in public communities, such as long-distance relationship forums, to learn which moments are hard and the words people use for them. We paraphrase patterns. We never quote or identify individual people.

What our posts are not#

Our posts are general information, not therapy or medical advice, and they are not reviewed by a clinician before publishing. If you are worried about your own or your partner’s safety or mental health, contact a doctor, a licensed therapist, or local emergency services.

How we mention BeSeen#

We make BeSeen, and our posts mention it where a feature does what the advice describes. Every post works without the app: the questions, rituals, and scripts are yours to use with a notebook or a text thread. When we describe BeSeen, we describe only what is in the app today, and we are exact about it: it is free to try, partner features need an account, and we do not claim end-to-end encryption for everything. Our privacy policy says exactly what is and is not encrypted.

How we write about other apps#

Comparisons and roundups include apps we compete with. We check prices, platforms, and features against each app’s own website or App Store listing, and we date those facts, because they change. We say what each app does well and who should pick it over BeSeen. We are not paid to include or rank any app.

Updates and corrections#

When we change a post in a way that matters, we update the date shown under its title. If you find a mistake, email help@beseen.love and we will check it and fix the post if we got it wrong.

More about the company on our About page.