Social networkers need to buy invites to Ello

WANT an invite to the hot new anti-Facebook social network? It’s yours, providing you’re willing to buy your way in.

Ello social network

MOVE over Facebook. Meet the new social network that people are willing to pay to use.

Ello sounds like a consonant short of a proper word or like you’re lost for a word while talking about bad British sitcoms.

But the new social network promises to go places Facebook does not. It’s a social network that promises to keep private information private and not slam its users with a constant stream of ads.

The network started out as a closed system for 100 people.

Like other social networks such as Google+ and Pinterest, it’s taking little steps in its early days adding people only by invitation.

The network is getting a reported 45,000 requests an hour from people wanting to be part of the club.

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Now open for interaction ... The new social network Ello website is seen on the monitor screen in Washington DC. Picture: Paul J Richards

And early users with an eye for a business opportunity have taken to eBay to sell Ello invites, with prices going from anywhere from $1 to $100.

It’s not just a social network. It’s a social network that comes with its own manifesto.

“Your social network is owned by advertisers,” the statement from the founds says.

“Every post you share, every friend you make and every link you follow is tracked, recorded and converted into data. Advertisers buy your data so they can show you more ads. You are the product that’s bought and sold.

“We believe there is a better way. We believe in audacity. We believe in beauty, simplicity and transparency. We believe that the people who make things and the people who use them should be in partnership.

“We believe a social network can be a tool for empowerment. Not a tool to deceive, coerce and manipulate — but a place to connect, create and celebrate life.

“You are not a product.”

Should you pay for an invite to a new social network? Nope. No. Never. Why would you?

And while you sit back and hope someone sends you out an invite, at least you can take some comfort in knowing there are teething problems on the new network.

To say Ello is buggy and non-functional would be a disservice to other buggy and non-functional sites.

— Jordan Guthmann (@JGuthmann) September 29, 2014

Excitement over Ello seems to be mixed and that I'm hearing things that sound increasingly unattractive about it

— Aeva (⚤+⚡=⚥) (@ladyaeva) September 29, 2014

ello has friends /and/ followers? this is too much for me i have anxiety

— courtney (@ckmakestweets) September 29, 2014

everyone getting invites to ello and i'm here twiddling my thumbs

— sarah (@oxfordcommmas) September 29, 2014

#SPOTTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA