Article updated September 29 at 9 am
Ello.co is the new social network in fashion. Still by invitation only, he claims to respect your privacy and lacking any form of advertising. What contrast with the giants of the sector. Facebook and Twitter do they worry about the
This is promised in their charter, widely promoted on the site, Ello.co will not sell your data personal (though the site admits to collect certain) and does not expose you to advertising in any form: “We believe a social network Can Be a tool for empowerment tool to deceive Not a, coerce, and. Manipulate – but a place to connect, create, and celebrate life You are not a product “
p align => “..” net / wp / wp-content / uploads / 2014/09 / ello-01.jpg “alt =” “height =” 288 “width =” 600 “/>
That speaks directly to the old Web adage of saying colloquially as “if it’s free, is that you’re the product.” We remember, for example, Facebook, which proposed Wi-Fi in 2012 with some behavioral data …
In practice it is time for a social network functionality sum all fairly standard, offering a mix of Facebook and Twitter, all in a spartan design … not to mention ugly. No revolution use the horizon as was for example brought Path (term limited to a small number of friends private network) or Snapchat (sharing photos and videos of ephemeral). Also it is not yet possible to perform certain Ello.co essential actions for a social network such as blocking a user disturbing, report inappropriate content or even post a simple video … Just the promise of “freedom “and alternative to the capitalist devil who chairs the fate of the largest social networks today
Good intentions and capitalism
Problem:. Ello.co not offer any of the Typical features of the free software world. Its source code is not made available to all as Diaspora for example, exporting data is impossible, and no API is available on the horizon …
Worst, where we might expect that such a project was created through equity or a system of participatory financing (Kickstarter or whatever), it does is nothing. Behind Ello.co, there is … venture capital. Specifically FreshTracks Capital , a VC-firm that pumped nearly $ 500,000 into the project in March (see the transaction on the website of the SEC.)
The founder of Ello.co, Paul Budnitz is also the typical profile of a perfect serial entrepreneur American capitalism since it is already the head of a bicycle brand of luxury, or a claw toys / figurines operator of many well-known licenses (The Simpsons, Ninja Turtles, Southpark, etc).
Let us understand It is not here to question the will of the creators Ello.co propose a social network “where the user is not the product” but all of these are all threats to the initial promise (no ads, respect for private life) and for the future of Ello.co. A venture capital is driven by one goal: to make financial profits. Nothing extraordinary about that, it is a common pattern in most companies – whatever the industry – in a world where the capitalist model dominates in most countries
But that’s it. a VC invests because he hopes – within or long – break even. An acquisition by an IPO, options are also often limited. How, in this context, keeping a promise that the monetization of users is impossible? By charging for premium features? Frankly, who would pay for Ello.co? Besides the multitude of “free” social networks that already exist …
Hype Machine
So why Ello.co suddenly makes the headlines? Why your friends post on Facebook the link to their profile Ello.co by offering invitations to join them? Because Ello.co is fashionable. Simply. Yo as there a few months, as Pheed there a little longer. Here, hype would come from an influx of LGBT activist, leaving Facebook in favor of a more “free” place. In all cases, there are no perks for some who already sell on eBay Ello.co invitations to …
As for the future of philanthropy Ello.co it already seems to me very compromise with $ 500,000 to reimburse a VC …
Follow me on Twitter (zdar) and Facebook.
No comments:
Post a Comment