New ad-free social network Ello is pro-privacy, but with caveats

[JMH]

A new social network is generating buzz for its hard stance against paid advertising and data collection. But how the site really works, when it comes to privacy, is a little more nuanced.
Ello is open on an invite-only basis, so you’ll need to know someone who’s already in the club to get in straight away. Tens of thousands of people are on the waiting list, according to the site, and only small batches of people are being let in at a time.
The site, which is still in beta, works similarly to Twitter. Users’ posts are public, and may include links to outside sites like YouTube or Soundcloud. There are two feeds: “Friends” for your besties; and a curated “Noise” stream for everything else. You can mention other users by adding the “@” symbol in front of their names, comment on their posts and repost them.

New ad-free social network Ello is pro-privacy, but with caveats | Network World

 

[JMH]

'Anti-Facebook' platform Ello attracts thousands

Social media network Ello is currently receiving up to 31,000 requests an hour from people wishing to join its platform, its founder has told the BBC.
It was initially designed to just be used by about 90 friends of its founder Paul Budnitz.
But the bike shop owner, from the US state of Vermont, opened it to others on 7 August.

BBC News - 'Anti-Facebook' platform Ello attracts thousands