Social network Ello got a lot of publicity due to its ‘you are not the product’ manifesto that styled it as the anti-Facebook, which makes money using the data you give it.
However, concerns about Ello started to be raised as it gained popularity. It is funded by investors, who will want a return at some point. Ello says it’s committed to not having advertisements, and hopes future premium features will be enough to turn a profit. However, the internet is littered with examples of successful free services that eventually succumbed to include advertising.
Ello’s promise that ‘you are not the product’ is also slightly suspect. The company’s Privacy Policy says it does not sell information about its users to third parties, but also says it may do exactly that in some circumstances.
Getting more funds from investment groups may give Ello what it needs to grow, but also puts its ethos in danger.
Update: Ello has tried to counter fears about its future. Read more here.
Source: Re/Code
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