Ello
Several weeks ago I became aware of a new social networking site called Ello. It’s an up and coming network that is still very much in beta but the plan is it won’t have ads but will be free to use for everyone. I will point out that further examination shows there will be features added that will have a one-time fee that I assume will cover the costs. I requested an invitation and finally got one on the weekend. Setting up the account was pretty quick and easy and profile options are quite basic right now.
My first impression is of a network that is rather stark and empty, but more like a blank canvas with potential to become something. I’m not quite sure what that something is but I do have hope they have some success with it. Of course the down side is this is a much smaller network than Facebook and it’s unlikely to get too many people moving to it and using it for a while. I was optimistic when Google + came out a few years ago and really liked the look of it but it just hasn’t caught on with most people so it sits and mostly is a place for reading posts from few groups I follow there. And there was another network I joined that had a similar idea to be ad free from the beginning but never went anywhere to my best knowledge. I think it still exists but I can’t even recall its name right now and haven’t logged in for probably a year or more. Perhaps Ello will go further and maybe even be a success. Meanwhile, I need to work out how I want to fit in my social networking life.
3 Comments
eValerie
I would really like to switch from Facebook to something else. When Google+ came out a few years ago, I really hoped that Google+ would be it. But G+ has some issues that really don’t work for me, and when I wrote to them to ask about it they actually did write back but basically said that my concerns were not valid. So I’ve stayed with Facebook. But I’d be glad if everybody moved from Facebook to some other site. So I’m curious about Ello.
eValerie
Hm. I surfed over to there and was unhappy with their user interface. There was a button that said, “Request Invitation.” So I clicked on it. Then the box to its left said, “C’mon, enter a real e-mail address.” So I entered one and clicked on “Request Invitation.” Nothing visibly happened. I clicked several times. I have no idea if that means it will send me three invitations, or if it means that it didn’t like my e-mail address. Total lack of feedback. And meanwhile there were all these pictures of strangers staring at me, which was just a little creepy.
Sigh.
Purple Lorikeet
Your comments all ended up in my spam folder and I just discovered them last night. :(
I’d also like an alternative to Facebook but it’s going to have to be something really good to get people off Facebook so not terribly practical for keeping connected since most of my contacts won’t venture into other territory.
I looked up the other social network and it’s called Diaspora. I logged in a day or two ago and one of my contacts is actually posting regularly on there. I think I might only have three there and the other two haven’t been on in years from what I can tell.
I can’t recall what happened when I asked to join as it was almost two months ago. The logo on Ello is rather bizarre and I can how it would seem creepy. I’m still pondering what I think and still haven’t posted anything. I can send an invitation so you can join directly though. Not sure if you need one on Diaspora these days but I could probably invite you there too, if you like.