The words ‘I wish there were a condom for my phone’ may not have ever left someone’s mouth, but yet technological advancements persist. Camdom, the first digital condom is here, brought to the “digital generation” by Innocean Berlin and Billyboy. And, while the words do conjure up some bizarre imagery of a wrapped-up iPhone, the app has been designed to put an end to a disturbing public health issue: non-consensual smartphone recordings. The idea is to place your smartphones close to each other before having sex, and then both swipe down a virtual button to block all cameras and microphones simultaneously. If one user tries to sneak out, an alarm goes off.

Non-consensual pornography is a new but rising phenomenon. In the US, an estimated one in eight people 18 years or older have experienced image-based abuse, and studies show this can damage the social relationships of the survivors and produce feelings of social anxiety and isolation. Susanne Plümecke, CEO of Innocean Berlin, says current conversations around digital intimacy have overlooked these emotional and psychological impacts. “Young people need to know how to protect themselves and their partners, not just from privacy risks but also from potential emotional fallout,” she says. “Including tools like Camdom in the safe sex dialogue helps underscore that digital intimacy has real consequences and that both parties deserve protection and respect.”

According to Plümecke, the term “digital condom” came about to create a complex digital solution for this issue and make it instantly relatable. “By framing Camdom as a ‘digital condom,’ we highlight that it’s about protection, boundaries, and respect in a digital context,” she says. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that it catches attention and can raise awareness for what Ricardo Wolff, Director of Innocean Berlin, considers a growing health problem. “Camdom was created to counter a growing problem previous generations didn’t have to face,” he says. The app also doesn’t only have to be used between two people – Wolff says it works with as many people who have the app open at once.

As smartphones become an extension of our bodies and recording and sharing non-consensual content becomes easier than ever, what constitutes as a safe sex practice should evolve into more education and practices around digital privacy. This should go beyond physical health to include online boundaries, privacy, and mutual respect, says Plümecke. With Camdom already available for iOS and Android (with plans to release it on the Apple app store by the end of the year), Wolff sees two potential scenarios for the app. One is to have as many downloads as possible. The other includes fewer downloads (some people don’t wear IRL condoms, after all), but the start of a much-needed conversation around digital responsibility and consensual sex. Either way, he considers it a win.