Ello (social network)
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| Web address | www |
|---|---|
| Slogan | simple, beautiful, and ad-free |
| Commercial? | No |
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Type of site
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Social network |
| Registration | Required to post, follow, or be followed |
| Available in | English |
| Users | 1 Million + |
| Created by | Paul Budnitz |
| Launched | March 2014 |
| Current status | Active |
Ello is an online social networking service created by Paul Budnitz and Todd Berger in March 2014.[1] It was created as an ad-free alternative to existing social networks. It is currently in beta.
Overview
Ello is free to use, but is exploring a freemium model to finance future activities. It is also selling specially branded T-shirts in a partnership with Threadless to generate revenue.[2]
The Ello service claims several notable distinguishing intentions as a social network:[1][3][4]
- never sell user data to advertisers or third parties
- never show advertisements
- not enforce a real-name policy
Features
Ello has several features already built, including an emoji autocomplete, NSFW settings and hashtag implementation, and is planning on adding others such as private messaging.[5]
History
Ello started as a private social network consisting of seven artists and programmers. After a year of the social network being private, the creators redesigned the website and launched Ello to the public.[3]
Seed funding of $435,000 from the venture capital investor FreshTracks Capital in January 2014 helped sustain the company initially. This decision earned some criticism when the network achieved wider popularity.[6]
Ello was launched on March 18, 2014, complete with a manifesto that claimed to distinguish it from other social networks like Facebook. The site promised it would never sell user data, proclaiming that "You Are Not a Product".[1][7] The social network service officially launched on April 3, although membership registration was only by invitation.[8][9]
Ello gained added attention in September 2014, when numerous members of the LGBTQ community left Facebook following the controversial enforcement of its real-name policy, thought to be intended to exclude drag queens in San Francisco.[3][10][4] At its peak, the social network was processing more than 30,000 signup requests an hour.[3][11] It is estimated that 20% of sign ups remain active on the site one week after registration.[12]
In October 2014, Ello reorganized itself as a benefit corporation and raised a further $5.5 million in venture capital.[13][14][15][16]
Criticism
Ello has been criticized by some for its simple, minimalist design.[17] Bona Kim of Gizmodo criticized the general bugginess of the website and accused it of trying too hard to look different from its main competitor, Facebook.[18]
One highly positive review expressed concern that Ello "seems fated to become the betamax of social media: superior to its competitor but failing to win popular traction. But it doesn't matter ... A social network doesn’t need approval from everyone to work."[19]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Vaas, Lisa, 'Anti-Facebook' Ello: swamped with privacy-hungry refugees, bouncing back from DDoS, Naked Security, Sophos Ltd., October 1, 2014
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
