Ello - The Porn-friendly, Privacy- And Anonymity-oriented Social Network

[Millard]

What does everyone think of Ello?

Your social network is owned by advertisers.

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.

Source: https://ello.co/wtf/post/manifesto

What is Ello?

Ello is a social networking platform that does not require people to use their real name when they sign up for an account (by invitation only at the moment). It protects users' patterns of use (their metadata) from Google. It does not sell any member information to third-parties such as advertisers. In fact, the free service promises to remain ad-free forever.

Instead, Ello offers an artistic and vaguely grown-up vibe (nudity is OK)...

Source: http://theconversation.com/say-ello-to-the-new-privacy-debate-on-social-media-32209

Does Ello Collect Any Information?

Yes, it does.

Ello collects location, language, referring web sites and time spent on Ello. Before that information is stored anywhere, such as Google’s servers, Ello says the IP address (sort of like a computer’s social-security number) logged during your visit is stripped and anonymized – meaning it is difficult for Ello, Google or anyone to trace the data back to any one user.

According to its privacy policy, Ello uses this information “to understand how people use Ello” and to help it improve. You can opt out of sharing any information at all.

There are certain caveats, Ello says. If you use either Google’s Chrome web browser, an Android smartphone, or Google services like search or YouTube, your web browser or device may send data back to Google that Ello can’t control.

Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/09...out-ello-the-social-network-with-a-manifesto/