 | |
Type of site | Social network |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Owner | Talenthouse |
| URL | www.ello.co |
| Commercial | Proprietary software;Freemium model planned |
| Registration | Required to post, follow, or be followed |
| Launched | March 2014; 11 years ago (2014-03) |
| Current status | Inactive since July 2023 |
Ello was an onlinesocial networking service created byPaul Budnitz and Todd Berger in March 2014.[1] It was shut down in July 2023.[2]
Ello began as a private social network consisting of seven artists and programmers. After a year of the social network being private, the creators redesigned the website and launched Ello to the public.[3] Seed funding of $435,000 from the venture capital investor FreshTracks Capital in January 2014 helped sustain the company initially. This decision earned some criticism when the network achieved wider popularity.[4]
Ello launched on March 19, 2014, complete with amanifesto that claimed to distinguish it from othersocial networks like Facebook. The site promised it would never sell user data, proclaiming "You Are Not a Product".[1][5] The social network service officially launched on April 3, although membership registration was only by invitation.[6][7]
Ello gained added attention in September 2014, when numerous members of theLGBTQ community left Facebook following thecontroversial enforcement of its real-name policy, thought to be intended to excludedrag queens inSan Francisco.[3][8][9] At its peak, the social network was processing more than 30,000 signup requests an hour.[3][10] It is estimated that 20% of sign ups remain active on the site one week after registration.[11]
In October 2014, Ello reorganized itself as abenefit corporation and raised a further $5.5 million inventure capital.[12][13][14][15] In 2015 Ello launched its iPhone app, which has many similarities to the original website, including format.[16] In 2016,Wired writer Charley Locke noted that the user base of Ello has shifted from early adopters of new social media to artists and other creative people.[17] In 2018,Talenthouse acquired Ello for an undisclosed amount.[18]
As of July 2023, the Ello social network is no longer available.[2]
Initially influenced byFacebook, Ello later switched to aPinterest-like focus on art, photography, fashion and web culture.[19]
The Ello service claimed several notable distinguishing intentions as a social network such as never selling user data to advertisers or third parties, never showing advertisements, and not enforcing a real-name policy.[1][3][8]
Ello provided some features like an emoji autocomplete,NSFW settings and hashtags, and was planning on adding others such as private messaging.[20]
Ello was free to use, but was exploring afreemium model to finance future activities. It was also selling specially branded T-shirts in a partnership withThreadless to generaterevenue.[21] Additionally, the social network introduced a 'Hire Me' button in August 2016, followed by a 'Buy' and 'Collaborate Button' soon after that. The 'Hire Me' and/or 'Collaborate' buttons enabled users to be contacted by other community members, to either collaborate or offer their services. The 'Buy button' could be added to any post, and directed towards any online shop where the goods were sold. As such, Ello seemingly chose to turn to the affiliate revenue model to gain income.[22][23]
Ello had been criticized for its simple,minimalist design.[24] Bona Kim ofGizmodo criticized the general bugginess of the website and accused it of trying too hard to look different from its main competitor,Facebook.[25] One highly positive review expressed concern that Ello "seems fated to become thebetamax of social media: superior to its competitor but failing to win popular traction. But it doesn't matter ... A social network doesn't need approval fromeveryone to work."[26]