Most internet users are aware of mainstream social media sites and blogging platforms such as Tumblr, Twitter, and Facebook. Three sites created as direct alternatives to the aforementioned list, developed and released in 2014, have set out to revolutionize the field of social networks. One promises an end to policies commodifying user information, and the other promises to share revenue with its users by giving them royalties from ad revenue for insightful content.

Ello

Ello opened for the public on March 18, though the social network still remains exclusive to those who have received invites from existing users.

Created by Paul Budnitz and Todd Berger, Ello boldly proclaims “You Are Not A Product” in its vow to never sell user data for profit. In October, the company signed a new charter, making Ello a public benefit corporation, according to Wired. The social network also boasts to be completely ad-free and promises not to enforce a real-name policy among its users. According to VentureBeat, only around 20 percent of those who sign up post anything after the first week of use. Ello user Jeton Guiterrez-Bujari (12) argued for Ello’s merit as a platform.

tsū

tsū, a Facebook-esque alternative social network that opened on Oct. 21, advertises that it shares 90 percent of its ad revenue with its users. The site monetarily compensates users for posting engaging content and inviting friends.

Separating the site from the rest of the social network herd are tsū’s policies for content ownership. The network advocates for the “empowerment” of the user, allowing the user to retain royalties for content created on tsū “in perpetuity.” tsū currently remains invite-only.

“We believe in real ownership, which only exists when users own the rights to their content and the economics that come with it,” the website says. “Users should be compensated for their likeness, image and content. It’s simple and it’s the right thing to do.”

Shannon Hong (11) doubts the popularity of tsū but also sees its appeal.

“I don’t know that tsū will be widely adopted simply because platforms like Twitter and Facebook have such large followings,” she said. “However, I do see potential for the ‘paying the user’ idea to spread. Hopefully with a movement like tsū, there will be enough momentum to spur even the largest social media platforms to reform so that users are compensated for their postings.”

Two smartphone apps, Yik Yak and Secret, boast anonymity to their users by creating a forum-like interface where users can browse posts, vote, and comment incognito.

Yik Yak

Launched in November 2013, Yik Yak rose in popularity exponentially, ranking as the third most downloaded app in the United States as of September 2014, according to Gizmodo.

The app allows users to view anonymous posts within a 1.5 mile radius of their location, depending on how many users are present, functioning as a bulletin board for Twitter-like anonymous posts. Yik Yak is primarily used for interacting with those nearby; it also allows users to police what is posted with an upvote and downvote feature.

The “Peek” function allows users to peek into other Yik Yak pockets, particularly other college campuses. The app was originally developed for college campuses, according to the founders. “Peek” allows users to view yaks from other locations but does not let them post, as users can only post within their actual Yik Yak pocket, an area of 1.5 square miles. Users can also see the highest-voted posts of all time from their area as well as throughout the United States.

Yik Yak came under heavy criticism in September for facilitating cyber-bullying, especially at middle schools and high schools. Many schools have banned the app. Yik Yak has developed in response measures from the company Maponics that “geo-fence” the areas around high schools and middle schools, creating pockets on the map where school officials have the opportunity to ban the use of Yik Yak. These measures came into effect on March 13, 2014, with over 85 percent of middle and high schools indexed and fenced from use.

Currently, the app is available for use on the Upper School campus.

Secret

Secret, a smartphone app released on Jan. 30, differs from Yik Yak on account of its intention for sharing anonymously among friends and friends of friends.

According to its website, the app claims to protect user information in three distinct ways, namely by not showing specific information labeling a secret (i.e. the normal ‘friend’ or ‘friend of friend’) if one does not have enough friends on Secret, withholding one’s secrets from the feed until one has more than three friends on Secret, and delivering one’s own secrets onto the feed at random intervals.

Similar concerns to Yik Yak about cyberbullying and the malicious spreading of private information or photos have been raised about Secret.

“Secret is part of a wave of apps and services that are popular now and I believe will continue to flourish because they answer a subset of needs our cultures have developed,” Stephanie Engle, a marketing intern at Secret, said. “It’s interesting, because all of these services offer a pseudo experience of the Internet past from which Facebook and other social networks helped us depart, when everything was anonymous and fragmented. But then, less people were watching. Now, we crave virtual anonymity because so much of who we are is ready and available online that it’s hard to escape your identity in any space.”

This piece was originally published in the pages of the Winged Post on November 21, 2014.