There's a new buzzy social network on the Internet: Ello.
It comes with a manifesto -- and no advertising -- and, so far, is invitation-only. People have been quick to tag it as the anti-Facebook. But why, on an Internet where new social networks pop up (and die) like weeds, is Ello getting all this attention?
Some reports credit the recent controversy over Facebook's policy requiring users' real names, which angered the LGBT activists and drag performers, in particular, for pushing Ello into the spotlight. The network launched in March, but the requests to join skyrocketed to 31,000 per hour yesterday, according to BetaBeat. Some have even been selling their invitations on eBay.
The manifesto sounds appealing to anyone who wants to strike back at Internet machine that tracks personal data and manipulates what you see, reading, in part: "We believe a social network can be a tool for empowerment. Not a tool to deceive, coerce and manipulate -- but a place to connect, create and celebrate life."
Ok. So Ello's idealistic. And maybe, as argued in this piece from The Guardian, Ello could be a more sophisticated network to consider as we outgrow Facebook.
As for how Ello works, Gizmodo has a post explaining the features and navigation. It started as a gathering spot for artists and designers, founded by Paul Budnitz, also known for Kidrobot. Ello's black-and-white interface is spare and the network is still building features that are pretty much expected, like privacy controls. But it has some features that are attractive because of that simplicity. For instance, you sort your connections into two groups: Friends and Noise.
No advertising seems to one of the key draws, and it'll be interesting to see how Ello can keep that promise. It sounds like the network might offer premium features later, for a price. That is, if Ello sticks around.
