Home Tech 15 Of The Best Alternatives To Facebook To Protect Your Privacy

15 Of The Best Alternatives To Facebook To Protect Your Privacy

With more than 2.2 billion users worldwide, Facebook is so ingrained in our lives that you may find it hard to imagine giving it up completely.

Even if you don’t post very often, it’s still a useful way to chat, share photos and find out what your friends are up to, but there are other similar sites and apps. Here are six less Best Alternatives To Facebook nosy options to try.

Here is The List of Best Alternatives To Facebook

1. RAFTR 

Whereas your Facebook news feed is (or was) a jumble of posts of varying degrees of interest, Raftr lets you browse communities – called ‘rafts’ – about news, topics and activities you actually want to read about and discuss.

Best Alternatives To Facebook
Raftr is a friendly social network connecting people with similar interests

In this sense, it’s similar to Facebook’s Groups feature, but with a cleaner, better-organized interface. Sharing thoughts, photos and videos is very straightforward, as is exploring and joining rafts that interest you.

Raftr is available on the web and as an iOS app, and you need to provide your
phone number to sign up, so it can “verify your identity with a unique, texted code each time you log in”, and prevent abuse and spam.

It’s certainly worth a look, although currently there’s a bias towards US college students – just like early Facebook!

2. DIASPORA

Best Alternatives To Facebook
Diaspora respects your privacy and feels familiar but it’s also underpopulated

Right from its homepage, Diaspora promises to be very different from Facebook. This non-profit social network lets you choose where in the world your data is stored, by selecting a ‘pod’ server when you sign up.

It gives you total control over who can see the content you share, and there’s no requirement to use your real identity, so you’re free to use a pseudonym.

Twitter-like features such as ‘mentions’, ‘reshares’ and ‘loves’ make Diaspora feel
familiar, and you can explore the content by following topic-based hashtags.

Since 2010, Diaspora has attracted around a million users, but only has two UK-based pods, so you may find it pretty quiet. Perhaps the Facebook backlash will encourage more sign-ups.

3. Vero – True Social

Available for Android and iOS, Vero was hyped earlier this year as the “new Facebook”, offering many of the same features but with better privacy.

Unlike Facebook, Vero doesn’t use mysterious algorithms, which means your news feed is
organized chronologically, isn’t curated or manipulated in any way, and lets you choose
exactly who can see the content you share.

Best Alternatives To Facebook

Best of all, Vero has nos sponsored ads and promises not to sell your information to
third parties. Because Vero doesn’t use paid-for advertising, it plans to make money by charging an annual subscription fee, though the cost has yet to be confirmed.

Currently, it’s free for anyone to sign up, but this is partly to compensate for the number of bugs and outages the service has suffered.

Download on Google Play Store

Download on Apple App Store

4. NEXTDOOR

Nextdoor turns Facebook’s local-groups feature into “the private social network for your neighborhood”, connecting you online with people who live nearby.

Users can discuss issues affecting their community; advertise items for sale or free collection; request and offer services such as decorating, dog walking and house sitting; recommend plumbers, cleaners and other tradespeople; share details of lost and found items, or just have a moan.

15 Of The Best Alternatives To Facebook To Protect Your Privacy
Nextdoor connects you with neighbours and marks members’ homes on a map

Nextdoor’s Facebook-style interface makes it easy to use, but you need to provide your phone number or address to sign up. This helps to deter troublemakers, but you may see it as an invasion of privacy, particularly as your home is then marked on the neighborhood map (unless you hide it).

5. SIGNAL 

Facebook-owned WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption, but the data-sharing scandal may make you less confident about the messaging app’s privacy.

In March, the Information Commissioner’s Office ruled it illegal for WhatsApp to share data with Facebook, but this may change once the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force later this month.

15 Of The Best Alternatives To Facebook To Protect Your Privacy
Signal encrypts all your messages and calls

If you love to chat, but you no longer feel comfortable using WhatsApp – let alone Facebook Messenger – you’re better off using Signal. Available for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux, this ultra-secure messaging service also uses end-to-end encryption but dispenses with privacy-invading notions such as accounts, tracking, and cloud backups.

Introduction to Signal Private Messenger

It lets you set messages to self-destruct after a specific length of time and offers encrypted voice and video calls You need to provide your phone number to register with Signal and verify your account, but once you’ve received the confirmation code (or automated voice call), everything thereafter is done online.

The only drawback is that your friends need to be on Signal for you to chat to them, but as it’s quick, easy, and free to sign up, this shouldn’t be a problem.

6. TWITTER

Twitter is far superior to Facebook for breaking news (just don’t believe everything you read), less cluttered with ads and annoyances, and allows you to interact with celebrities and companies on the same level.

The conversation is fast, unfiltered, and concise, and it’s easy to share photos, videos, and GIFs, as well as opinions, jokes, and pithy replies.

Unlike Facebook, you don’t have to hand over lots of private data to use Twitter – not even your real name – and can opt-out of personalized ads by going to Settings, ‘Privacy and safety, Personalisation, and choosing ‘Disable all’

7. MeWe

Recently launched MeWe can be stated as one of the best Facebook alternatives, knowing that it currently has more than 8 million registered users. It’s a spyware-free, ad-free, and censorship-free platform.

MeWe: Your Private Life is #Not4Sale

This online networking channel has several features that you can relate to Facebook, such as private chats, tagging, groups, voice messages, GIFs, memes, content permissions, etc. The app may not look so charming to users but is easy to use as compared to Facebook.

Additionally, there are many more add-ons to keep the users engaged. The highlight of this portal is that you can send encrypted messages that give assurance that your data is secured.

However, you’ll have to pay submission fees for features like encrypted chat, live voice, and video calls, extra cloud storage, dark mode, and others. It is actually the source of generating revenue for MeWe since it is an ad-free platform and does not sell your data or keep a tab on you.

To ensure no intervention with your content and data, the social channel keeps your feed strictly unfiltered and chronologically. Furthermore, the moderation team makes sure the identification and removal of hate speech and other harmful content.

However, the platform usually does not take any action to manage posts with hate speech. Also, it is not a decentralized or open-source platform.

MeWe is available for iOS and Android devices, but not as a web version.

Download on Google Play Store

Download on Apple App Store

8. Ello

Another ad-free and private alternative to Facebook. Unknown for a while, this social networking channel gained a buzz in 2014 after Facebook’s legal name policy controversy emerged.

Best Alternatives To Facebook

It is a one-stop destination for creative people. Whether you are an artist, musician, photographer, or singer, you will love to use it. Ello empowers you to build your brand identity and trade your items.

Ello emphasizes top-grade engaging content. The simple and sleek UI with minimalistic design gives creative artists an excellent background to post.

Another USP of the platform is that, unlike Facebook, it never shows ads, sells user data, and demands a real-name policy. The main objective behind the channel’s developers is absolutely no sharing of your personal data to advertisers.

However, Ello is not restricted to creative minds; anybody can sign up on it. Feed your soul, exploring the eye-catching posts on this platform. Undoubtedly, this social platform is attracting people fast because they feel secure and safe on online channels that currently lack on Facebook.

9. Minds

In 2012, Bill Ottman, John Ottman, and Mark Harding launched this online networking platform that went public in 2015. Freedom, privacy, transparency, and democratization are the objectives of this social handle as the founders believe Facebook breaches these user rights.

Minds | The crypto social network

The USP of this community-owned portal is that Wire rewards the users by paying users in crypto and offering more views on their posts for their online activity. So, get paid for investing your time on it, unlike Facebook.

The social networking channel will control the daily contribution of each user to the community. Their percentage across the platform will decide the value a user can receive from his or her share of the Daily Reward Pool of tokens. These rewards you earned can be traded to access exclusive content or to increase your exposure.

The encrypted chat system is another feather in its hat. Further, according to its decentralized governance method, randomly chosen members can vote on content moderation choices.

The portal is supportive of Web, iOS, and Android operating systems

Download on Google Play Store

Download on Apple App Store

10. Steemit

Steemit is blockchain-based online networking as well as a blogging platform created by Daniel Larimer. Launched in the year 2016, it’s possibly the most innovative alternative to the renowned Facebook platform.

15 Of The Best Alternatives To Facebook To Protect Your Privacy

Like Minds, authors are compensated on this platform with a cryptocurrency named Steem as a payment for their contributions. Getting paid for blogging, along with an introduction to cryptocurrency, is an appealing idea for sure.

Besides, you don’t need costly computer gear to mine Steem. Instead, you only create and comment on content that gets recorded to the Steem blockchain and deposited in a permanent blockchain ledger.

Each of us knows, all our content on Facebook is used for free to make revenue. On the contrary, the same content can be rewarded on Steemit. Thus, it is an ideal Facebook alternative.

You can create one free account and post as much content as you want. But creating more accounts to post and vote more means you have to pay a fee.

The email address and phone number you entered to join the channel keep the admin updated that each user has registered on it for just one free account. Steemit does not discourage anonymity, but when a user declares to be somebody specific, he or she ought to give proper evidence to prove the identity.

Although Steemit is ad-free, your personal data can be shared to support their ad partners according to the portal’s privacy policy.

11. Wire: Secure Messenger

Developed with the association of Skype co-founder Janus Friis, Wire is a collaboration and messaging platform. It boasts several key features that you would like to have in your messaging app in the present digital age.

15 Of The Best Alternatives To Facebook To Protect Your Privacy

Wire installation is as easy and similar to installing any other app. Simply choose the person you want to chat with and start a conversation. Also, it has a modern and clean user interface.

Further, Wire has various usage plans as per your requirements. You can choose from a free, personal plan for private messaging, and paid professional plans that help enterprises use it for coordination with employees.

Above all, every plan offers end-to-end encryption that makes it a secure platform for sure, hence, giving it the upper-end over Facebook.

The messaging app includes various amazing features, such as video calls, voice chats, GIFs, file attachment, making groups, sharing location, like and reply to a specific message in the thread. You can even draw pictures on your mobile’s screen and message it to your friends.

Besides, the highlight of this messenger is a timed message. It means your message will not save forever on another person’s device. Using a small stopwatch icon from the Wire window, you can select time delays, for instance, 2 minutes.

It activates the timed message on every message that will automatically disappear from all devices after reaching that time limit.

Moreover, unlike Facebook, it has a strong security system as it offers end-to-end encryption to conversations. Its security system allows the users to allocate new encryption keys for each message that keeps every other message in the conversation protected. Hence, making it an excellent Facebook Messenger alternative.

Another advantage of this platform is that you don’t need to fear chattering with an imposter. Wire allows you to verify that the current conversation is safe for messages as well as voice calls through its key fingerprints option.

Lastly, it acts as a comprehensive team collaboration tool with features like Group Messaging, private cloud, member roles, guest rooms, audio, and video calls. But Wire’s business version falls under a paid plan.

Download on Google Play Store

Download on Apple App Store

12. Mastodon

Started in 2017, Mastodon became a buzz amongst social networking enthusiasts who wanted to leave Facebook since it is a decentralized alternative.

No single corporation controls it or can monopolize your communication on this social networking channel. You will find no ads, no data mining, and no rejiggering on your wall to load it with promotional content.

Additionally, it is a free and open-source channel whose code is freely available on GitHub. Thus, volunteers continuously work to remove any possible issue and to add new features to boost its performance. The social networking channel is developed on the open GNU Social protocol with the potential to be extremely more flexible.

Members can use it as the Facebook alternative in many ways. You can add hashtags, emojis, and pictures when tooting (a term used to post on this platform). It also lets you choose whether you want to keep your post public or private to share with specific users.

Further, there is a post lock option that will only be visible to your followers. The content posting limit on Mastodon is 500 characters.

By giving a star, you can show your appreciation for any post. But this social networking channel lacks a messenger app like Facebook.

13. Reddit

This public forum has been built over the years, making itself a great social networking platform. Reddit is a social platform with a unique concept. The UI of Reddit may seem complex to first-time users.

15 Of The Best Alternatives To Facebook To Protect Your Privacy

It is more suited to people who want some real-time discussions on some serious topics, however, not restricted to them. In fact, it is a hub for like-minded people to discuss various trending topics. It is also a favorite platform for meme-makers focussed on uploading dank memes.

Reddit is famous for sharing questions, images, stories, or anything that may be appealing. Here users can post and comment on things they like the most.

Users can also appreciate the content of other members by awarding them. You will find a gazillion of communities on this platform called “subreddits.”

These subreddits depict various topics that you can choose as per your preference, such as football, movies, science, arts, etc. Users connect here with each other by commenting on those posts. You can even customize your own subreddit on meeting particular criteria.

Moderators (or mods) manage Subreddits who can edit the appearance of a specific subreddit, approve content type in the sub, remove posts or even ban users from that subreddit.

Besides, the admins on Reddit have the power to ban complete subreddits from the website or take away privileges from mods.

In short, this social networking handle is about a group of individuals meeting online, sharing stuff, and interacting with each other. Like you do on Facebook but in an intricate way.

14. EyeEm

Are you a photography lover or professional? You can’t miss out using the EyeEm platform then. The sleek and smooth UI with an eye-catchy design will easily win every creative person’s heart.

This Berlin-based social media channel focuses on visual content. That said, you can share professional photos and snapshots with the community.

The app offers an array of filters and editing tools to improve your image quality. As per its business model, you can voluntarily offer your images on the startup’s marketplace that are sold with stock licenses to Getty Images and other buyers. You’ll get your share from the revenue generated by EyeEm.

Above all, EyeEm social networking channel runs on German data protection regulations that are way more stringent than those found in the USA laws.

EyeEm even makes sure to update all the terms and conditions of the data protection on its platform to maintain transparency and its users’ trust.

The growing portal is frequently increasing its functions and features to keep the users engaged. So, EyeEm is a one-stop destination for you if you use a social networking channel only to share pictures. However, the app is accessible only for Android devices or via a browser.

Is Facebook listens to your conversations? 🤔

Myth:-  If you’re a Facebook user, you may have felt unsettled when a place, company or product that you mentioned in a real-life conversation with someone – either face to face or over the phone – resulted in a related advert appearing on Facebook a short while later.

Facebook can’t read your mind (can it?), so how does it do this? The obvious answer is that it is listening to your conversations through your smartphone’s microphone.

We all know the social network spies on you in lots of ways, so logic dictates that this is just another disturbing example.

Truth:- If you’ve personally experienced this phenomenon, then nothing we say will convince you that Facebook isn’t secretly listening to your every word. But it isn’t.

The social network knows you very well, and it pulls in data from lots of different sources to tailor ads that match your interests. If you search for, say, Bluetooth speakers in Google on your desktop PC, then Facebook will start showing ads for Bluetooth speakers in its mobile app.

This is both clever and creepy, but how do we know Facebook isn’t listening in to what you say? 

Well, for one thing, sending entire recorded conversations to Facebook HQ would noticeably eat through your data plan, while listening out for and focusing on set keywords requires a lot of processing power, which would seriously impact on your phone’s battery life.

If you find that Facebook is displaying ads that are uncannily relevant to your recent activities, it may be getting this information from your location history.

15 Of The Best Alternatives To Facebook To Protect Your Privacy
Facebook doesn’t listen to you but it does track your location – unless you stop it.

To disable this, tap the menu in the top-right corner of the Facebook app, choose Settings and select Location in the Privacy section. Here, you can disable location services and stop Facebook from accessing your precise whereabouts, even when you’re not using the app.

Summing up

If you are wise enough, you will make a move from Facebook to a safe and secure social networking alternative that does not use your personal data. People have lost trust in Facebook ever since it was exposed through its data breaching scandal in 2018.

Or maybe some are too bored with the same old Facebook features that no longer excites them enough to stay. Thus, no matter what your reason is, there are a myriad of Facebook alternatives available on the internet.

Switching to MeWe or Reddit cab be apt meeting platforms for those searching for community or meetup space. Creative and intellectual minds will like to be part of the Ello, EyeEm, or Reddit platform. Minds and Steemit channels are perfect for turning your social networking experience into revenue.

Go for Mastodon to keep in touch only with people really close to you. For solely business purposes, I recommend the Wire messaging app. Lastly, to keep your private data safe, any alternative in the above list will serve you well.

If you are on the same hunt, I hope now you can easily choose the one that suits your needs.