Since Facebook announced a new policy trying to make people use their real name on the social network, there has been quite a blowback from people like musicians, artists, and members of the LGBT community who use pseudonyms on the site for artistic purposes or to protect their real identities.
One company is reaping the benefits of Facebook's 'real name' stance and making a name for itself in the process. A social network called Ello, with some New England roots, has generated a ton of buzz over the past few days as people have inundated the site with invitation requests. The descriptor some are giving to the site: the 'anti-Facebook.'
Since Facebook announced and started cracking down on people using their real names-the new policy states: 'The name you use should be your real name as it would be listed on your credit card, driver's license or student ID.'-Ello is seeing 4,000 invitation requests per hour, according to an interview with Ello founder Paul Budnitz in BetaBeat yesterday. (Judging from the popularity of Ello in my Twitter stream today, I wouldn't be surprised if that number was higher.)
What is the attraction of Ello, which launched in the spring, besides a lack of a 'real name' policy? Well, the design is very simplistic and almost sartorially beautiful by comparison to the image, button, column, and advertisement overload that is Facebook these days.
And that's just it. With a tagline of 'Simple, beautiful & ad-free,' and a manifesto that goes after Facebook (without naming the company) for its data mining practices, Ello is a rare breath of fresh air amid all the other modes of online communication and social networking in our lives.
The manifesto itself goes after social networks that it says are 'owned by advertisers.' And further states:
Every post you share, every friend you make and every link you follow is tracked, recorded and converted into data. Advertisers buy your data so they can show you more ads. You are the product that's bought and sold.
We believe there is a better way. We believe in audacity. We believe in beauty, simplicity and transparency. We believe that the people who make things and the people who use them should be in partnership.
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.
You are not a product.
Ello was created in collaboration by a group that includes KidRobot toy creator Paul Budnitz, as well as design firm Berger & Föhr and 'creative technologists' collective Mode Set, both of which are based in Colorado.
Budnitz, whose KidRobot creates the Munny and Dunny dolls that are popular in some art and design connected circles, also has a luxury bicycle company based in Burlington, Vt., called Budnitz Bicycle. Also, an author, filmmaker, and artist, Budnitz lives in both New York City and Vermont.
The question is, will you join Ello? Tell us what you think about the new social network below.
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