Everything you need to know about 'anti-Facebook' social network, Ello

Ello, the ad-free, invite-only, independent social network has gone viral over the last week, which means you probably need to know about it. Are people going to switch from Facebook to ello? Should we be dropping Facebook ads? Probably not.

The ad-free social network has quickly gained a reputation for being the “anti-Facebook.” Several reports have linked the rise of Ello to the recent who-ha caused by Facebook’s “real name policy”, which requires all users to go by their legal name on the social network (it came under fire earlier this month as several drag performers and LGBT activists spoke out after being locked out of their accounts for not using their legal names.) Although Facebook agreed to temporarily give individuals affected by the policy back their accounts, the social network has so far not changed their rules. Some of those people have now moved to Ello.

Ello’s manifesto reads:

“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.”

The creators have a long list of new features, including mobile apps and more privacy settings, they say are in the works. When these will launch is unclear. It’s been reported that the network apparently received so many requests that it had to temporarily limit users’ abilities to send them. 

In our opinion, Ello is not the next big thing – just another passing fad, which has currently got the internet’s attention.