From Facebook to Meta, now many things have changed for users. They are now more concerned about online privacy, even if the company has over 2.89 billion monthly active users worldwide. Millions of users left the platform already after the Cambridge Analytica scandal came to public notice. Also, Also, Facebook’s data collection practices have caused its user base to plummet by 66% in 2018. People are skeptical that the company has been collecting all their data for years, and are looking for a better platform where they can feel more secure. If you have also recently tried deleting your FB account to search for Better Alternatives to Facebook, there must be some good. Here are some good social media options for you to try this year.
1. MeWe
The social media platform has crossed over 18 million members mark and there are reasonable facts about it. The platform does claim that it doesn’t control your news feed. It offers all the features you’d expect from a social media website, such as groups, messaging app, and newsfeed. What makes it more viable than Facebook is MeWe’s focus on privacy and creating a safe community. MeWe also offers additional features such as cloud storage, disappearing content, and more, but not all the features are free on MeWe. If you want to access some of the features, you’ll need to pay a subscription.
2. Vero
The user base at Vero has reached above the 3 million mark, probably because it’s a relatively new social media platform. Vero is based on the subscription model, which means you won’t have to worry about no annoying ads or data collection. This growing social media alternative is app-based, but they don’t collect your usage stats. You have to turn this option on to monitor how often you use the service. This social network calls itself a place for people who love anything enough to share it and want to have better control over what they share. It already has a good number of artists and a polished interface despite having a few glitches in the app.
3. Tumblr
The blogging platform has 427 registered accounts and has 496 million users of all ages. You’ll be surprised to know that Tumblr has 376 million unique visitors worldwide. The social media platform has a special place in the hearts of American users. You’ll easily find the type of content you want, whether educational, business-centric, or even arts & history. There’s no word limit or restrictions such as Twitter or Facebook. You get your own space to post your blogs and reblogs. This is where you’ll find some rare collections of arts, history, modern art, and absolutely everything you like.
4. Ello
Though Ello was born in 2014, it started gaining popularity in the US due to Facebook’s policy of forcing members to use their legal names. Since then, it has made headlines on different occasions due to different reasons. Ello is quickly gaining its foothold as an ad-free alternative to Facebook, as the latter service faces criticism. Focused on artists and creative people, Ello also refrains from selling user data to third parties. This niche focus continues to attract users and establish Ello as a creator’s network. And yes, this is where you’ll find fellow Americans easily. The platform has already reached a commendable 1 million users mark.
5. Mastodon
Mastodon, a lesser-known social media network, was created in 2017 as a potential alternative to Facebook. In addition, people are drawn to Mastodon’s open-source platform and its many features that Facebook lacks. What sets it apart from Facebook is its unique “instance” feature. This allows users to connect with others in a series of interconnected nodes. Your account is specific to one instance, and the whole interface is divided into four card-like columns. Although it may sound complicated at first, you’ll be able to get the hang of it quickly and find it to be a very interesting platform. The best part about this platform is that it’s a decentralized social network platform as no company owns it or controls what you post. That’s a boon for people demanding free speech.
6. Aether
Aether is a great open-source Facebook alternative for everyone who wants a well-moderated platform. Aether is perfect for those who want to keep their private information private and have control over the content they publish. I love that all published content is kept for only six months unless it’s saved. Then it’s deleted automatically. This alternative platform runs as a peer-to-peer network with no centralized server. Instead, users are in control of their profile, information, and data. Communities inside Aether are public but considered private. There is no information stored on just one server.
7. Steemit
Since the world is stepping into a blockchain market, here is another alternative to Facebook on the list. Steemit is the perfect blend of Reddit and Quora. Here, you can publish your posts and receive Steem crypto tokens based on your upvotes. Steemit has amassed more than 1.2 million users in just a couple of years because of its amazing features. Its similar to blockchain-based blogging and social media sites where you receive crypto as rewards. According to the data, they have 10M visits every month, and its growth has been organic; people are joining it because they are receiving compensation in return for their time. Steemit is committed to sustainability; that’s why they store all user data on the Steem Blockchain, preventing any central authority from deleting it.
8. Friendica
It is a decentralized platform that allows users more freedom than Facebook. However, its developers are still improving its complicated framework to make it easy for non-technical people to use. They are also working to make its installation process similar to WordPress on websites. Friendica is a collaborative platform with no single owner; its software is open-source and available on GitHub. Volunteers are doing the ongoing development of this platform, and its many features have made it a popular choice for social networking. However, the volunteers want to make it even better, and that’s why many people are drawn to it. You can connect with your friends and share content on Friendica by fixing the software on a social system. This means you can create your own server, making it easy to stay connected with your friends.
9. Twitter
The list of the best alternatives to Facebook is incomplete without Twitter. This is where you’ll find celebrities, sports stars, and all the big politicians, and that doesn’t mean you can’t be there to express your concerns. Twitter is a powerful platform with more than 300 million monthly active users. However, if you’re looking to spread your message to a global audience, it is a great alternative with a huge user base. Twitter is the perfect place to see new stories and arguments break. Because it’s so fast-paced, you can often interact directly with journalists and editors. If you like saying your best in a few words, Twitter is one of the best alternatives to Facebook.
10. Diaspora
Diaspora is a unique social media platform created as an alternative to Facebook in 2010. Unlike Facebook, Diaspora is a decentralized network based on free software. This makes it a great choice for personal web servers. Diaspora is based on three core principles: freedom, decentralization, and privacy. There are a variety of distinct networks, called pods that are built and maintained by users who are using Diaspora’s free software. It’s great that no one person owns Diaspora, and it’s kept free from advertising and corporate influence. There are two ways to join Diaspora, create a new pod or join an open pod. Once you create an account, you also can retain ownership of your data. However, Facebook does not offer this feature.