Looking for Facebook Alternatives?
Maybe you’re concerned about Facebook’s long timeline of questionable data collection and privacy policies.
Or maybe you’re just bored with ol’ Facebook and are looking for a newer, fresher app that fits your personality, interests, and online preferences.
Whatever your reasons for scoping out Facebook alternatives, your search ends here.
In this article, we’ve curated the best alternatives to Facebook — with a special emphasis on stronger privacy and data protection policies.
You’ll find an overview of more than 12 different comparable social media platforms, and the number of users, privacy policies and feature highlights for each one.
Ready to find your “new Facebook”?
Let’s go!
Why Use A Facebook Alternative?
Facebook was created in 2004, and since then, it’s consistently annoyed sections of its user base with every change in function or policy.
Facebook users’ irritation eventually evolved into anger and fear after several serious scandals over privacy and data collection surfaced as early as 2007, and continue into 2022.
A Brief Timeline of Facebook’s Major Controversies
2007: Facebook introduces Beacon — an advertising platform that automatically notified users’ Facebook friends when they made an online purchase through specific (popular) shopping sites.
2011: Facebook is slapped with charges from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for failing to keep its privacy promises, including allowing apps to access almost all of a user’s data, and sharing users’ info with advertisers.
2014: Facebook admits to conducting a “mood manipulation” experiment on half a million users — showing them positive or negative content on their news feeds to see how it affects their emotions.
2018: A landmark year for Facebook controversy, including the Cambridge Analytica scandal, a massive data breach, and the revelation that Facebook knew about all of it and did nothing.
2022: CEO Mark Zuckerberg changes the company name to “Meta” and expands into AI and 3D virtual worlds, but users are still skeptical about their privacy policies.
Meta has promised to do better, but if your trust in Zuckerberg has eroded, well, that’s completely understandable.
Luckily, there are quite a few high-quality, more trustworthy alternatives to explore.
12+ Best Alternatives to Facebook (That Respect Privacy & Keep Your Data Safe)
The social networks below may not be as large as Facebook (yet!), but when it comes to respecting your privacy and keeping your data safe, they are miles ahead.
1. WT.Social
WT.Social calls itself “the non-toxic social network,” due to it’s ad-free format.
It was created by Jimmy Wales, who co-founded Wikipedia — so you get the same cool microblogging features as Wikipedia.
You can choose various subwikis to follow topics of your interest, so you don’t have to worry about some behind-the-scenes algorithm trying to manipulate your feed.
Number of Users
Data Protection
WT.Social is transparent about what data they collect and how they use it. The social network doesn’t sell your data to advertisers, so ads don’t influence your feed in any way.
Who Should Use WT. Social
Users who want a news-focused Facebook alternative, love discussion threads, and want an ad-free experience.
Feature Highlight
The platform allows contributors to edit incorrect content or content flagged by community members as misinformation.
2. MeWe
MeWe markets itself as the “next-gen social network” — an app built with the latest social-sharing technology — with privacy built into the design.
It has everything you love about Facebook, like groups, private chats, tagging, and a newsfeed, and it avoids everything you hate about it, like ads, targeted content, and newsfeed-manipulating algorithms.
Number of Users
Data Protection
MeWe asserts “Your private life is “#Not4Sale” and backs it up with a “Privacy Bill of Rights”.
Who Should Use MeWe
Users who love the functionality of Facebook, but don’t want the ads or privacy risk.
Feature Highlight
The platform supports 20 languages and offers a wide range of groups to join and interests to choose from.
3. Mastodon
Mastodon was launched in 2017 as an open-source alternative to Twitter, and has a similar feel and functionality.
It tags itself as the “decentralized social network” — allowing anyone to host servers and control their own data.
Messages have 500-character limit and follow a chronological order.
Number of Users
Data Protection
Mastodon is decentralized — meaning it’s not owned by any single company.
It is ad-free and the system does not track you or collect your data. Only servers that agree to the “Mastodon Server Covenant” (a commitment to integrity) are listed on the main site.
Who Should Use Mastadon
Users who want a decentralized Twitter alternative, and users who are tech savvy (the interface takes a bit of getting used to).
Feature Highlight
Mastodon’s interface is divided into card-like columns which gives it a very refreshing appeal when compared to other social media networks.
4. Diaspora
Diaspora is “the online social world where you are in control.”
Based on three “key philosophies” of decentralization, freedom, and privacy, Diaspora allows users to join “pods” — independently run servers all over the world.
Diaspora has an easy-to-use interface and includes messaging, hashtags, and a chronological newsfeed untouched by algorithms. It’s also ad-free.
Number of Users
Data Protection
Diaspora’s privacy policy is based on the premise that you have “total control over what is yours”. You own your own data and choose who to share it with.
Who Should Use Dispora
Diaspora is the best Facebook alternative for users who are dead serious about privacy. With Diaspora, you can host your own “pod,” and only interact with other pods you deem trustworthy.
Feature Highlight
Diaspora allows you to share your posts on your other social media services. They currently support Twitter, Tumblr, and WordPress.
5. Minds
Minds pitches itself as the antidote to the surveillance, algorithm manipulation, and censorship issues rampant in the social network space.
Minds is open-source, community-owned, decentralized and does not display any 3rd party ads.
Members can use “Mind Tokens”, a form of cryptocurrency, to boost their content to other users.
Number of Users
Data Protection
Minds’ privacy policy clearly states that it does not share the personal information of users with anyone, outside of regulatory compliance.
Who Should Use Minds
A content creator who loves the idea of earning and using cryptocurrency to promote their work.
Feature Highlight
Mind pays Ethereum-based “Mind Tokens” to reward a content creator and increase engagement on the platform.
6. Vero
Vero is a social media platform focused on music, video and other art.
The timeline shows posts chronologically and the feed is not cluttered with ads or sponsored content.
Celebrity accounts (like Kylie Jenner & Selena Gomez) lend it a more premium and authentic vibe compared to other platforms.
Number of Users
It claimed to have reached 5 million users in 2020, but the number of current active users is unknown.
Data Protection
Vero does not run ads and very vocally denies trading your personal information for money with anyone.
Who Should Use Vero
Vero is the best Facebook alternative for independent artists and their fans. Through its Creator Spotlights, it encourages and helps up-and-coming artists find a voice and build an audience.
Feature Highlight
Vero has a large aggregation of music, books, movies, and games for users to explore.
7. Ello
Known as the “The Creators Network, ” Ello is dedicated to connecting artists, brands, publishers and their fans.
Ello has a “creative briefs” section where agencies can post projects, and artists can submit their work to win money and exposure.
Ello is an invite-only platform, but you can request to join (although it may take a while to get in).
Number of Users
Estimated 1 million+
Data Protection
Ello is totally ad-free and does not monetize user data. It also allows users to restrict or even delete their personal data if they so desire.
Who Should Use Ello
Ello is the perfect online community for artists, creatives, and art lovers.
Feature Highlight
Ello allows you to directly sell your art on the platform — giving artists a more targeted audience than Facebook Marketplace.
8. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is designed to help working professionals network, find work, and hire talent. Although it maintains a “professional” vibe, it has a robust newsfeed where users can connect and share updates.
LinkedIn also offers a “groups” feature similar to joining a Facebook group — just expect the content to be more professional than personal.
Number of Users
Data Protection
LinkedIn is transparent about the data they collect from users and how they use it.
While LinkedIn displays ads to users, the social media platform does not directly share any personal data with 3rd parties. It also allows users to easily restrict or change the way their data is used.
Who Should Use LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the best Facebook alternative for users who want to network with people in their industry, find jobs, or learn about their favorite brands.
Feature Highlight
Linkedin offers “creator mode”, to help users build a following within the network.
Activating creator mode allows users to promote their content (like written articles) and gives them access to analytics to track their reach.
9. Telegram
Telegram is a great alternative to Facebook messenger or WhatsApp (owned by Facebook).
Telegram’s messaging system provides more security via its “secret chats” feature, which offers end-to-end encryption.
Telegram Groups can accommodate 200,000 members, and features include: reply, react, mentions, and search using hashtags.
Number of Users
Data Protection
Telegram does not utilize users’ data to run ads or for any other commercial purpose.
Who Should Use Telegram
Telegram is one of the best Facebook alternatives for users seeking a more secure messenger service, and who enjoy group chats.
Feature Highlight
Telegram prides itself on its data security and encourages anyone who claims they can hack and decipher Telegram messages, to participate in their Cracking Contest and win $300k.
10. Reddit
Reddit developed as a social news aggregator and has built a solid community since it’s creation in 2005.
It offers forums (called “subreddits”) on every topic imaginable, from life advice to politics and pop culture. If you love joining Facebook groups about specific topics, subreddits are a similar feature.
Others can up-vote or down-vote on the content you share, which means the most interesting and informative content gets rewarded and stays on top of the forum feed.
Reddit offers anonymity, too — you don’t have to register with your real name.
Number of Users
Data Protection
Reddit’s privacy policy clearly states, “We do not sell your personal information,” and lists exactly how they do use the information they collect.
Who Should Use Reddit
Users with a voracious curiosity, who love to spend hours diving into internet “rabbit holes”.
Feature Highlight
Reddit allows you to award your favorite contributors with Reddit coins. You can give a Silver, Gold or Platinum Award to the post or comment you found most worthy.
Awarding Reddit posts encourages contributors to keep creating exemplary content.
11. Steem It
Steemit calls itself the “social media dApp” or decentralized app.
The social networking platform combines blockchain-based blogging with a Reddit-style content up-voting and down-voting option. Both content contributors and voters are rewarded with tokens (cryptocurrency called STEEM).
Number of Users
Data Protection
Steemit does not sell your personal information with other organizations without your consent, outside of what’s needed for compliance.
Who Should Use Steem It
Users whose passions intersect with cutting-edge tech, cryptocurrency, and content creation.
Feature Highlight
You can see the crypto earnings of each piece of content — an indicator of how valuable the post is to users.
12. Clubhouse
Clubhouse is like a cross between an old-school chat room and a modern podcast.
Deemed “the social audio app”, users can drop into a chat room to listen to and discuss topics of interest, or host their own room.
Clubhouse was initially an invite-only platform. But as of 2021, anyone can join.
Number of Users
Data Protection
The social platform assures it does not sell users’ personal information, and is transparent about who they may disclose it to, including online services you connect to your Clubhouse account or law enforcement agencies.
Who Should Use Clubhouse
Users who love live audio chats about interesting topics.
Feature Highlight
The app has a cool Backchannel feature that allows you to start a text chat with Clubhouse users, either 1:1 or in a group.
13. Twitch
Twitch is a popular live-streaming platform in the gaming community.
It recently expanded its categories beyond gaming to include music and e-sports, and a separate genre of IRL (In Real Life) for content that doesn’t fit into the former categories (travel or fitness, for example).
Number of Users
Data Protection
Twitch’s privacy policy is transparent about how they utilize user’s data. However, Twitch does work with adverstisers who use tracking tools such as cookies.
Who Should Use Twitch
Twitch is one of the best Facebook alternatives for Gamers and other creatives who love live streaming.
Feature Highlight
Twitch offers an immersive experience when viewing its channels. When you’re watching a live stream, you get to hear the artist, watch them in action, follow the subtitles, participate via text chat and interact with other viewers.
Facebook Alternatives: Which Is Right For You?
Facebook had a good run, but it’s time to move on.
Other social media platforms offer all of Facebook’s features and more, perfectly tailoring your user experience to your unique passions and interests.
And most importantly, they respect your privacy.
So if you’re into crypto, head over to SteemIt or Minds.
If you’re an artist, creative or gamer, check out Ello or Twitch.
Or if you feel like diving down a few fascinating internet rabbit holes, sign up for a Reddit account.
Whatever you’re into, Facebook alternatives are out there.
And now you know exactly where to find them.
The post 12+ Facebook Alternatives in 2023 (That Value Your Privacy) appeared first on Smart Blogger.
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