Facebook Alternatives 2024 – Social Networks That Won’t Sell Your Data

People are starting to wise up to what Facebook is doing with your data.

In fact according to the Ponemon Institute, trust in Facebook took a 66% Plunge in 2018.

By 2021 after a series of internal document leaks their reputation continued to slide. Something they have done little to recover from to this day. In one attempt to overcome this, the company changed its parent brand name to ‘Meta’ but this only added fuel to the already furious fire.

Over the past few years Facebook has been collecting vast amounts of data of all its users, which quite frankly is scary. You can see exactly what Facebook has on you by downloading your data zip file here.

Everything from photos and messages to mobile phone numbers of everyone in your phone. They also have all your text messages you’ve made on your cell phone! It’s crazy how much they have. And with the recent Facebookl CA scandal, people are now looking for alternatives to Facebook where privacy is respected and private information is never shared or sold to other companies or organisations.

Believe it or not, there are plenty of social networks and messaging apps that you can use instead of Facebook. For years these networks and apps have been living in the shadows of the mighty beast that is Facebook. But now is the time to explore a better way of interacting with friends and family without the fear of your data being stolen and stored on huge servers in far flung places.

Best Social Network Alternatives To Facebook

Facebook AlternativeNo. UsersOwner
WT Social450kJimmy Wales (co-founded Wikipedia)
EyeEm20mTalenthouse
Diasporia745kDiasporia Inc
Yubo60mSacha Lazimi
MeWe20mSgrouples Inc.
PixelFed40kDaniel Supernault
Friendica1mMike Macgirvin
Ello1mTalenthouse
Vero5mAyman Hariri
Mastodon4.4mEugen Rochko
Steem it1.2mNed Scott and Daniel Larimer
Raftr1mSue Decker
Minds2.5mBill Ottman
ClubHouse10mPaul Davison and Rohan Seth

WT Social

WT Social is a social network that aims to be the complete antithesis of Facebook. The tagline says it all: WT Social is the non-toxic social network.

The network was launched by Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales. Wikipedia’s microblogging and contribution features are prevalent on WT Social. But more importantly, it lacks all of the data collection that comes with Facebook.

At WT Social, your data is not collected and sold. Not only that, but advertisers don’t dictate what’s on the site or what you see. There aren’t even algorithms to curate your feed for you. Members have full control over the user experience.

The network also takes a hard stance against misleading content. Contributors can easily edit the content that’s filled with misinformation. Furthermore, WT Social removes members who violate the terms and conditions of the site. It’s a fair and honest platform that focuses on connecting people; plain and simple.

EyeEm

If you like the photo-sharing aspects of Facebook, EyeEm may be right up your alley. Founded in 2011, this platform has evolved quite a bit since its infancy. It started out as a mobile-only app where users could upload and share iPhone photos. Today, it’s a digital space that caters to both photographers and businesses.

On EyeEm, photographers can upload their best images. Other users can then interact with photos, share them, and learn more about the art of photography.

The business side of EyeEm has taken the stock photography world by storm. EyeEm acts as a database of more than 100 million high-quality images. Anyone can license photos from the platform. However, EyeEm is particularly popular with brands and marketing agencies.

The cool thing about EyeEm is that it uses artificial intelligence to find the best images for searchers, not advertising.

Yubo

Yubo presents itself as the social network about socializing. Take one look through the app and you’ll see that Yubo isn’t about tracking users or slapping you in the face with ads every five seconds.

The platform does collect some data. But a lot of it comes with completely optional activities. Even better, Yubo is pretty transparent about data collection. The privacy policy is easy to understand and all of the terms are laid out for you to read.

Yubo is a simple network that focuses on live streaming. Members can create live sessions with up to 10 different streamers and an unlimited number of viewers. On the main page of the app, you can search for live streams based on topics. There’s also the option to follow your favorite streamers so that you always know when they go live.

The platform is aimed at users between the ages of 13 to 25. To protect younger users, Yubo separates members into two communities. Those over the age of 18 cannot interact with younger users and vice versa.

MeWe

Ever since its launch in 2014, MeWe has put privacy at the forefront. The platform touts that it’s “The Next-Gen Social Network.” How is different from Facebook? Well, MeWe doesn’t have any ads whatsoever. Your feed has nothing but content from those you follow.

MeWe doesn’t data mine or sell your private data either. The platform relies on optional paid services to generate revenue. You can buy extra storage for your Secret Chat account or pay a few bucks for custom emojis. Recently, MeWe launched a premium-tier plan with a monthly few. It also started offering enterprise-level services with a slew of paid features catered to business and collaboration.

Even with all those optional purchases, the core MeWe service is completely free for anyone to use. With an account, you can create posts, share content, and more. There’s also a secure chat system. MeWe doesn’t manipulate your feed in any way. So, you’re always in control over what you see.

PixelFed

PixelFed is a decentralized social media platform that was launched in 2018. Unlike many centralized social media platforms, PixelFed is community-owned and operated, meaning that users have more control over their data and how it is used.

The platform uses a distributed network of servers to host content. This means that there is no single point of failure or control, and users can connect with others without the need for a central authority.

PixelFed is similar in many ways to Instagram, allowing users to share photos and videos, follow other users, and engage with content through likes and comments. Users also have the ability to control who sees their content and who they follow.

One of the key features of PixelFed is its emphasis on privacy and user control. The platform doesn’t track user data or serve targeted ads. It is also built on open-source technology.

Friendica

Friendica is another decentralized platform that wants to provide users with more freedom. This network is a lot more complex than Facebook. But, developers aim to make it as easy for non-technical users to access as possible in the future. The hopes are to create an installation process that’s similar to WordPress on websites.

Friendica is not owned by a single person. In fact, the software is open-source and available on GitHub. The ongoing development is done by volunteers. But, that hasn’t stopped Friendica from gaining traction in the social media sphere.

When you create an account with Friendica, you must install the software on a compatible system. Essentially, you’re making your own Friendica server that you can then connect with others. It’s a great way to connect and view posts from the people you want while avoiding the rest of the noise.

Users can integrate contacts from other platforms. It’s also possible to use the platform to post on other networks. Thanks to its open-source nature, Friendica is only going to get more flexible as it continues to evolve.

Ello

Ello launched back in 2014 with quite a stir in the US as it was about the time when Facebook changed its policy on names of its members, where they had to use their proper legal name. Its popularity grew as Ello presented itself to the world as a “Facebook killer social network” which doesn’t push ads down its users’ throats and doesn’t sell peoples’ information and data to 3rd parties.

Ello is growing fast again, especially as the #deletefacebook movement is gathering pace. People want to feel safe and secure on a social network and it doesn’t seem to be that way on Facebook at the moment. Hence why platforms like Ello are gobbling up these Facebook migrants.

Ello currently is a home to artists and creative people, but has the platform to embrace all types of users.

Vero

Vero presents itself as “a social network for anyone who loves anything enough to share it – and wants control over who they share it with. Just like we do in real life.” 

Vero is a subscription based social network. It shows no ads and doesn’t collect data. It’s a totally different model to Facebook in the sense that Facebook needs user data in order to make money from them. Vero does collect some usage data which is used to see how often the app is used, but note that this option by default is off. Unlike Facebook where they have everything turned on and you have to go into your settings and turn them off.

Another great thing about the usage data they collect is how its displayed to you.  Vero want to address the issue of social media addiction.

Vero says that they want the platform to enhance your life and not detract from it. So they use the usage data that they collect from you to show you how much time you’re spending in the app so you can manage your screen time.

Mastodon

Mastodon launched in 2017 and made quite an impact on the social network scene. Mastodon is a free, open-source social network. When it launched it was presented as an open source Twitter competitor, but as people are leaving Facebook its being used the same way you would Facebook, which makes it a really good alternative to Facebook.

Ultimately Mastodon is a decentralized alternative to all the commercial social network platforms, which means that no single company owns it or can monopolize your communication.

Steemit

Steemit is like a cross between Reddit and Quora where you can publish your posts which can be voted up or down depending if people like them or not ( similar to both reddit and quora ).

When you get upvotes you receive Steem crypto tokens which lends itself well to those cryptocurrency and open source enthusiasts. Also people are using the platform due to its compensation to the users for spending time using the platform.

Users don’t have to post anything if they don’t want to and it can simply be used as a news aggregator or just a platform to get involved in conversations related to specific interests.

Steemit has about 10 million visits per month which in comparison to Facebook is tiny! But its growing and it doesn’t gobble up your personal data and sell it to 3rd parties.

Raftr

Raftr calls itself a “civilized social network.” It launched in 2017 by Sue Decker, a former Yahoo executive. Here vision for the platform is to create a place where conversations and unfolding stories are the pure focus. Its a place where you can connect to the communities who share the same or similar interests that you have.

I love the initial sign up page as it gives you two options.

1: Find out what’s going on in the real world

or

2: Connect with people at your college / work / family etc.

To create an account, you have to join a pre-existing community, for example your college or union community. You can create your own community, but to do so you must be representing an organization, and carry out a phone call to request a demo of the product.

What data do they collect?

Raft collects some data, but that’s only to build your profile. They do not share any of your personal data with 3rd parties.

Raft is a great alternative to Facebook and a platform where you can follow news, events and interests relevant to you. It is however, not open to everyone.

This solution is tailored toward educational, workplace or non-profit organization environments. It provides a secure platform to engage across teams, share content and bring awareness to events and information.

Diaspora

Diaspora is also in the mix when it comes to Facebook alternatives. Diaspora is a decentralized social network that is nonprofit and runs on free Diaspora software. The software is in the form of a free personal web server.

Diaspora is decentralized which means no one person owns it. This means that it doesn’t have any form of advertisement and corporate interference. It also does not collect any of your data. When you create your account, you are responsible for your own data and retain the ownership of your personal data.

Unlike Facebook, Diaspora allows you to use whatever identity you want, so pseudonyms and nicknames are fine to display as your profile. You can use hashtags, mentions, text formatting, etc.

Diasporia’s tag line is “the online social world where you are in control.”

Quite the opposite to Facebook in my opinion, which I must say is quite refreshing. Their three “key philosophies” is decentralization, freedom, and privacy. You have “total control over what is yours,” according to the privacy policy of Diaspora. You decide with whom to share your data because you own it.

Users can join “pods” — independently run servers located all over the world. You can only interact with other pods that you deem trustworthy.

Minds

Minds is an open source social network that was created by Bill Ottman, John Ottman and Mark Harding in 2012, but launched to the public in 2015.

The platform is a community-owned social networking platform that rewards its users for their activity online, similar to the Steemit platform.  They do this with paying users in crypto and providing users with more views on their posted content. Minds will monitor each users daily contribution and relative to the community. The amount a user gets will be determined by their percentage across the network which then determines their share of the Daily Reward Pool of tokens.

Minds social network is built on a foundation of freedom, transparency, privacy and democratization.

Clubhouse

Clubhouse is a social networking app that allows users to participate in live audio discussions and conversations with other users on a variety of topics.

Clubhouse was initially open to a small number of people. It gained huge popularity due to its exclusive invitation-only policy, which created a sense of exclusivity and allure among users.

Clubhouse resembles a hybrid of a contemporary podcast and an old-fashioned chat room.

Users of what is known as “the social audio app” can enter chat rooms to listen to and discuss subjects that interest them or they can host their own rooms. The app offers a variety of chat rooms, where users can join discussions on topics such as technology, business, entertainment, and social issues.

The app has attracted a diverse range of users, including celebrities, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders, making it a unique platform for networking and knowledge-sharing.

Overall, Clubhouse is a new and innovative way to connect with others and explore a wide range of topics through engaging audio conversations. It’s not like Facebook at all, as its all about audio, but there is a similar vibe to the platform that has made it so popular in such a short space of time.

Alternatives to Facebook Messenger / Whatsapp

Signal

Signal is a feature-rich messaging app that’s open-source and free to use. Unlike Facebook Messenger and Whatapp, Signal is built with security and privacy in mind. Every conversation you have, whether it’s with a single person or a group, uses end-to-end encryption. This ensures that your data is safe from prying eyes.

Security features aren’t some optional toggle you enable in the settings menu. It’s what Signal is built around. Not even the developers have access to your conversations.

The app is very intuitive and comes with all the features you would expect from a modern messaging platform. You can send text-based messages, voice memos, photos, videos, and more. There are even voice and video chat. Signal uses standard cell numbers to keep your name private. Plus, there are several ways to verify the identity of someone trying to communicate with you through the app.

Threema

Threema is a secure messaging app that was launched in 2012. The app is designed to be highly secure, with end-to-end encryption for all messages and calls. Users don’t even have to provide any personal information, such as phone numbers or email addresses, to create an account. This means that you can communicate with others while preserving your privacy and anonymity.

Privacy is at the core of Threema, so much so that they themselves as the service provider don’t have any way to read your communications. The end to end encryption means that only you and the recipient are able to read your conversation.

It is available on all major operating systems, and it is fully GDPR compliant too, which is reassuring for businesses that want a secure messaging alternative.

Tox

The story of Tox is one that’s all too familiar in today’s digital landscape. The instant-messaging platform in the brainchild of aa team that was fed up with apps that spied, tracked, and censored users. Instead of continuing to use those platforms, the team created its own. The end product is Tox!

Tox uses open-source software. It relies on peer-to-peer technology to safely connect you with trusted friends and family. Every connection is encrypted using open-source libraries. So, the only people who can view your conversation are those who are a part of it.

To make things even better, Tox doesn’t have a centralized server or database. It’s all powered by the DigitalOcean cloud infrastructure. So, hackers can break in and steal data.

Tox focuses on providing users with a safe and advertiser-free platform. You don’t have to be worried about being bombarded with ads or having your data collected and sold. It’s a free platform that has all the features you would ever need to stay connected.

Matrix

Matrix is an interesting network that utilizes some advanced technology to improve your privacy. It’s an open-source network that’s completely decentralized. The messaging platform is maintained by a non-profit organization that’s independent of big corporations. As result, your information stays safe from data miners, advertisers, and hackers.

Technically speaking, Matrix is a conversation store rather than a traditional messaging system. When you send messages to friends, data is replicated through all the servers of those participating in the chat. There’s no one data storage center. That means that there’s no single control point or vulnerable point, either.

All of your conversations are secured with end-to-end encryption as well. Whether you’re sending files or making voice calls through VoIP, everything is safe.

One cool thing about Matrix is that you can connect across platforms. Matrix acts as a secure bridge to other networks, allowing them to link together. It truly creates a larger matrix of safe communication.

Element

Element is a secure, open-source messaging and collaboration app that provides end-to-end encryption for messaging, voice, and video calls. It was previously known as Riot and was rebranded as Element in 2020. Element is based on the open-source Matrix protocol, which enables secure communication across different devices, platforms, and services.

As with many of the solutions here, decentralisation is at the core of this product. Element uses a distributed network of servers and users can choose to where to host their data, either themselves or through use of a third-party server. This architecture allows for greater data privacy and security as users have full control over their data.

One nice features is that Element supports cross-signed device verification, which allows users to verify the identity of their contacts and ensure that their communications are secure.

Element is highly customizable and supports a wide range of features, including group chat, file sharing, and integration with other services like Jira and Trello. It’s available on all major desktop and mobile platforms.

There are no adverts or tracking and you don’t need to provide your phone number either.

Telegram

Telegram is a cute little messenger filled with fun artwork and animated mascots. But don’t let the colorful nature fool you. Telegram uses some strong encryption techniques to keep your conversations safe.

The messaging client is free and open-source. So, it’s available to anyone. However, the server-side of the communication system is closed and proprietary.

Telegram utilizes a couple of different forms of encryption. For standard cloud-based communication, client-server/server-client encryption is used. Your data is also encrypted at rest when it reaches the server for another layer of security. Secret chats between users use full end-to-end encryption.

In addition to being safe from hackers, your Telegram data can self-destruct. There are several optional settings that you can use to ensure that Telegram destroys your data after a specified period.

The Telegram client app has a ton of unique features. You can send simple messages, chat with groups of up to 200,000, share files, and more. Messages can sync across multiple devices, too.

Jami

Jami Messenger is a free and open-source SIP-based peer-to-peer instant messenger that allows users to communicate via text, voice, and video calls, as well as share files and create groups. It was developed by the non-profit organization Savoir-faire Linux and is available on various platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

The origins of Jami are rooted in an older solution ‘SFLphone’, and stable releases of the current product have been available across platforms since 2021. The parent company based in Canada, propose the product as being a free, open source alternative to Skype.

Jami is available for individual users and as a business solution too. It’s a great solution for messaging, but also for sharing media and conducting conference calls securely. Similarly to Skype, you can also screen share which is a bonus.

Other guides you might find useful…

Best Domain Registrars – helping you find the best domain registrar for your new site.

How To Start A Blog – An easy to follow guide showing you how to create your very own blog in just minutes.

How To Make Money As A Kid – Cool mini business ideas and side hustles for kids to make some cash.

How To Make A Website – Step by step guide showing you how you can have a fully functioning website in just 30 mins.

Choosing The Best Blogging Platform – Comparison guide to the best blogging sites available to you.

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Jamie Spencer

My name is Jamie Spencer and I have spent the past 10 years building money making blogs. After growing tired of the 9-5, commuting and never seeing my family I decided that I wanted to make some changes and launched my first blog. Since then I have launched lots of successful niche blogs and after selling my survivalist blog I decided to teach other people how to do the same.

111 thoughts on “Facebook Alternatives 2024 – Social Networks That Won’t Sell Your Data”

  1. Zuckerman can kiss my grits! I am so glad that I have other alternatives to FB. They permanently deleted my account for some stupid reason they will not give me. Thus taking all of my information with them. I had been with them for quite awhile. I have a website that I like to send my posts to my social networks. I used my real name on FB so it couldn’t of been that. I never used any negative or dishonorable posts or pics. I have no idea what it was but if I have to start over so be it. Perhaps building my business on a different platform is exactly what I need to do. I don’t give a rootin’ tootin’ raspberry what FB does. Zuckerman is already too rich anyway. Hooray for alternatives!!!!

  2. Anyone find a decent option from FB? Sick of the left wing deep state bullshit. If you go to settings and blocking feature. Type in cyber spy or anything close to that and see the monikers which are extreme racists like m*lm brotherhood?? And people wonder how come their posts are sensored? Went through and blocked over 200 in a day and got slapped with “you’ve exceeded your limit of blocks”. Put up anything against cv and get slapped with ” false news” and worse, use red flag words like m*lm, Mexico, or aliens and get hit with anti community standards. Really fed up with FB intolerance towards conservatives.

  3. Thank you so much. You are my kind of guy. I’ll cross those off. Please let us know of any others you check.

  4. So Rhea, I’m curious – what platform did you decide to go with. I’m on Fakebook until I find a better alternative. Thx

  5. We have to thank facebook for building such massive infrastructure and connect all of us globally.

    We have to follow the guidelines of facebook because each organization have their own rules we should follow it and get what best from the social media get it.

    I am also running my business to create a massive organization and i am giving free share of my portal.This company will be based in delaware we are bringing all good heart from global kalpavriksha internet world so we have also defined certain rules so we ask our members to follow it strictly just imagine a startup like us wanted to follow rules cant we think FB will do that just told my opinion.

  6. Old gal who used to love FB but is tired of having her opinion put her in FB jail or her friends not being able to respond because they are in FB jail. My daughter is in “Messenger” lockdown for 3 days with no one who can tell her why. She’s a cat and kitten “Haz cheeseburger” type. No political references, nothing yet she’s been shut down and no one will tell her why. That’s my last straw. Now that FB is babysitting my account (and everyone else’s) they have actually chosen to monitor what I post and if they deem it is questionable honesty, they will post a notice on it. free to be free. I’ll go somewhere else.

  7. Mark, I like your idea of building a new platform the best after reading all the comments. The concept of public discourse is imperative to freedom. The problem is that no matter what platform is created we, as the People of the United States, have a behavioral problem. We can no longer disagree without resorting to hateful commentary or being bombarded by Trolls.

    Facebook is a polluted pool of unsubstantiated opinions which are reposted and agreed upon and by the magic of consensus then mystically graduates to a substantiated fact due to popularity. This is fine for selecting the cutest baby animal but when it comes to actual events occurring in the United States; it is poison to us all.

    Maybe the platform has a Social feed like FB and a Voice feed where news, public discourse and commentary on public issues lives. That way, the user can engage in the platform based on their own personal social sharing requirements.

  8. I miss the original myspace. It was awesome! I wish I never left it for facebook. It was so customizable and all about expression and creativity. You could add music to your page and customize background. It was all about individual expression. I miss it so much. Facebook has always been a mere shadow of it in my opinion. I only left because of friends. Bring back the original myspace!!!!!!

  9. Here’s a thought… Since it’s abundantly clear (not just on this page/site) that people are getting completely fed up with the shananigans that FB is doing…and I just learned of more that could get group Admins completely wiped from FB, including their personal pages… would anyone be up for collaborating to start a brand new social network, from the ground up?

    Without copying Facebook (they’ve sued people, or at least threatened, for duplicating pieces and parts, including part of their name) and combining options that are available separately on different websites such as:
    * Personal & business pages: Blog platforms
    * Connections: Dolphin (actually a framework to create your own network)
    * Groups: Mighty Networks
    –> which would include forum-style discussions, as to keep topics actually organized!
    * Education/How-to: Teachable, Khan Academy, etc
    * Alumni/yearbook-specific features: Flippingbook, Classmates
    * Photography/Art-specific: Smugmug, Zenfolio
    * Videos: YouTube (or anything with *tube in the name these days)

    I mean to put the user first by combining features such as those to the point where jaws hit the floor when the features are shown to the user.

    Maybe come up with some ideas and some mockups to get a Kickstarter campaign started?

    • Matt,

      I’d pass on YouTube. The only company that does more data mining than FB is Google. Find a different video platform and yes, I have ideas. Hit me up.

      • I am an older mostly housebound female and I have only used facebook in the lastveral decades…lol…and am sure there are other social media or the like of FB that I can find and check out . However TMI and my head is swimming just want to be able to get on one and check it out see if I can way from all the hub bub of FB can you help an old girl out here?

    • I’m lookingfor a safe alternative to FB but hvent yet found something that can match it… i would be interested in ground up…? What are your thoughts?

    • Yahoo is just as bad. Anything posted on their finance conversations that they disagree with
      like a a corona virus treatment that our POTUS may support, gets deleted immediately.
      It is astonishing that people would prefer death, (not theirs, only yours) than consider a viable alternative, just because they do not share the same political views.
      Of course you would have to come up with games, etc that addict the masses.

    • Hi Matt, I have been exploring this also.
      How much do you know about development?
      I am interested in creating a specialized network but open to collaboration on other ideas.

    • That is a great idea, I’d love to see something that is benign rather than invasive. Common sense platform with common sense rules.

  10. My issue with Facebook is the volumes of fake news bitcoin scam advertising. I get about 30 of these in my feed every session.

    Facebook knows they are scams, but will not ban them. Reporting them has no effect as they are somehow within Facebook’s advertising standards.

    Essentially, they are spreading lies. Putting people in danger of being defrauded, and using my internet allowance without my consent by the sheer volume of advertising.

    • And yet Facebook is shutting down legit pages and accounts from small businesses.

      20 + of my posts were marked as spam and deleted just today, and now I cannot use my link in IG Bio. Those posts they blocked are valuable info like blogs about how to create a site etc… definitely something more of value than trolls and scam artists they let roam around the platform.

      What’s crazy is that, I tried promoting a post in IG and they’d approved it, shortly after Facebook gave me a nudge via feed that I should promote my page like wtf really? Marking my relevant posts as scams yet still wants my money?

      I’m really disappointed right now. That’s why I’m here 🤦🏻‍♀️ I don’t know if their customer service is even existing, I disagree with all of their actions. Hope they will listen or else, I’ll use a different platform where my small online biz can hopefully thrive.

  11. The hardest part about making a change to a different platform is persuading your friends to follow. I’ve tried this several times with Minds, Mewe, et al. I get maybe 5 friends to make the change. Most are afraid their friends won’t follow them and their friends and their friends, etc. FB has been largely successful as the first platform of its type because once people are there few will try others for this reason. Social media is useless with the “social” part. Sure you can make new friends but most of us have invested greatly in the ones we have.

    Even if your friends were willing to change to a different platform, perhaps they won’t pick the same alternative as you do. What is really needed to make this work is a platform that allows you to post to multiple other platforms at the same time and reply to comments from any platform. There is one tool similar to this, HootSuite, but it is not free and really supports businesses that must manage their social media platform.

    • I’ve been using HootSuite for a long time. It’s still free. Some of the team-based features are not free. But the basic app is still free.

    • Paul, I agree with you. What would be BEST is if individuals on any platform could own their content, including followers, so as a person leaves they can drag their followers along and let them opt-out instead of convincing them to opt-in.

  12. Facebook now, particularly the facebook admins in the Philippines was acting as a sociopolitical defender of a specific biased political party. They were doing anything like deleting posts, comments, blocking out your accounts, questioning your identity, and even prohibits your accounts when reporting something that is opposing their favored political parties. So biased, what a shame!

    • I was just deleted from facebook …used it every day. I love politics and yesterday I posted that I was a certain party member and facebook banned me … not for a few hours but for good …I am looking for a social network that does not discriminate…

      • I understand, i am in facebook jail because a person made a disrespectful comment to me and i called him an a$$. Facebook flagged me and froze my account for 24 hours. Im posting to all if they want to contact me, going to have to text or call. Not doing the censorship and bias anymore!

      • Great article but there are so many choices. Do any of these allow you to creat “group” pages or events? I have a business that I use Facebook for. I guess I could keep Facebook for that and switch to something else for social networking, but again, which one do you choose?

  13. I don’t care about Facebook selling my data as much as I care about Facebook CENSORING opinions they don’t like, unfairly banning users and deplatforming voices contrary to the Liberal-Social-Justice mindset.

    If I put out ANY information on social media — including my email or location — I fully expect it to be public regardless of what the platform claims. If you are concerned about privacy, don;t put info out there. As far as browsing habits and interests, yes, they are public too! If you don;t want it known, be anonymous! It’s basic common sense. If you trust Suck-a-bird to uphold your privacy you are delusional.

    • I agree with Dwight. Public forums most never be censored especially when the censors embrace the foolishness and danger of left-wing politics.

      • Fb is always censoring users….especially women….in just got a 3 day ban….it ridiculous that i can’t speak my mind for fear of being blocked….im so over fb

  14. I had a facebook account and a brand page to show my art work. I had spent over $200 on facebook ads when May 2019 came around. Facebook sent me a promotion that if I spent a certain amount and met other criteria during the run of my ad (which depended on how people reacted to my ad) I would get a huge credit to my Facebook ad account. I signed up. I spent more than the minimum amount for the promotion.

    People love my art so the number of views and likes on my ad quickly met the requirements. Facebook began putting the credits into my Facebook Ad account …then flagged my account as spam. Not the ad, my ad wasn’t flagged ever, but the entire account I had on facebook was flagged. I wasn’t allowed to post anything. I was still allowed to contact their support center.

    I contacted them through their own help/support system asking what was going on? I reminded them I was using facebook as a platform for my business and had never posted anything on anyone else’s facebook page. I had only posted on my own personal page and my brand page associated with my personal page. I asked them why posts on my own page and my original art created by me was now being flagged as spam when I only post images and posts on my own page? Their response was to shut down my Facebook account with no explanation. Their behavior is unreasonable.

    They were making money off of me and I was using their services to get more customers. Facebook shut down my account simply because they lost money with their ad services on me. However, I would still have continued to run regular ads using their service as I had done before. I have since filed a complaint against FACEBOOK INC., with the federal trade commission, the California Attorney General, and a few other government agencies including a letter to my Congress rep.

    I also sent a letter to FACEBOOK INC., service of process briefly describing the situation and why I had reported their fraudulent behavior to government agencies on a single page. In case anyone wants the info FACEBOOK INC., service of process in the State of California is:

    CSC – Lawyers Incorporating Service
    Sierra Hinkle
    Registered Agent for FACEBOOK, INC.
    2710 Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 150N
    Sacramento, CA, 95833

    • This is something I just learned about last night — Apparently it goes against the TOS to post something from a page you created to your personal feed. That’s probably why they considered it spam.

  15. Well done to all of you refusing to give Facebook or FlunkedBook as I call it, your information, keep refusing, they locked me out of my account the Christmas before last & kept demanding I give them identification, I told them they could demand until their eyes popped out, they weren’t getting anything due to the fact that I didn’t know who they were, what they’d do with it, they’re only a social media platform, not law enforcement or a government department so they had no legal or moral standing to make such outrageous demands, Twitter or MeWe have never made any demands, so where do they get off…..

  16. Could I translate this informative article into my language Tâigí(Tâiwanse) and share it public?The mainstream social medias in Tâiwan are FB and IG I think, yeh FB got lots of problem I know, some of us move to Twitter as alternative…

    I’m using Mastodon and Diaspora since they were the decentralize social media I first found out, but I’m not really “using”, the information is far less I can get from the mainstream, so I just share stuffs when I want to spread something.

  17. Facebook has a monopoly and needs to be broken up like ma bell in the past! They stifle free speech and allow our enemies to spew anti-American slurs and should be shut down or fined billion’s for their anti American, Germany like in the war propaganda!

    • Agree! You can’t write anything bad about Obamas, the worst American couple. What did she accomplish? She is a disbarred lawyer. Her husband is the best President Iran ever had! We live in the country where the liberal media is lying every single day!

      • All you posted is FALSE……..too bad you ae comatose. If you don’t KNOW what both the Obamas accomplished, you are not an American citizen. Go crawl back under your rock of propaganda.

  18. I left Facebook awhile ago. The only thing I missed was groups. Is there an alternative which is building interesting groups as part of their platform?

    • I’m checking out Mighty Networks at the moment. Looking for others, as well. I may end up attempting to create my own social network, or at least groups alternative.

      • I think I would join in a heartbeat…just now going through some nonsense with FB, could not sign in–even with correct credentials, would not send me the access code under my 2FA to my phone, but sent by email, which I used…

        Over and over again, they would not honor the code, and would continually require a password reset, and then –you guessed it–the 2FA nonsense started again and again (gee, if I have the correct credentials, and correct code, I should go right through—yes??)…

        I got fed up with their “no reply” customer service–they asked for an i.d. showing name, photo, birth date (used my license, crossed out non-essential info) was not enough…customer service is key for me and my fledgling business–I need immediate assistance, not someone without a name (“FB team”) who doesn’t allow replies, hiding behind a computer screen w/no phone support…

        THAT’S what I’m searching for!!

  19. same here,
    I received a link on my phone, and i don’t use the facebook app, i choose to not connect as the link asked. Next day, Facebook has tell me i had “problems” to connecting to their site, i have click the link they sent me, asking for a pic of me…well i sent the pic!

    then later, the pic wasn’t enough, they asked for my true ID…Ho hell NO!
    Account deactivated, till i send a ID! will never send it,it will never happen!

    I used FB mostly to participate in funny/memes groups and for my sister who is abroad the country, never i posted anything about political stuff, religious, shocking content, NOTHING!
    They sure are constructing a solid database on that, stay way!

  20. All these sites try to be far too different and people won’t budge due to the unfamiliarity. Mewe was the best one so far, but even it doesn’t offer some of the better features when it comes to organising who sees what.

    Why not just copy Facebook note for note but remove all the useless stuff? Keep the U.I. identical but don’t sell data, remove stuff like the big text and Top stories, don’t auto post every single edit you make or profile picture change. Also, make things like file sharing more than a measly 10MB.

    Personally I don’t even mind ads if they are just in a corner of the screen or whatever and not in the main feed.

    Keep the familiarity that people love but cut off the fat. It’s that simple!

      • What? Person did not mean every inch of their defunct policies. I have been “hacked” 3 times on FB. I quit them as they sell our info.

      • I’ve been on FB for years and have enjoyed meeting new people. Lately someone has turned me over to the FB police and they’ve put me in jail without any defense. The only way I can even talk to the judge who I can’t see or know who or where he/she is, is by deactivating my account and when it asks why I can plead my case. The things this unknown troll, bad friend, disgruntled, opposition person is a mystery so that breeds suspicion of every person friended on FB. Not good! Everything is so cloaked and mysteriously sinister! What was “against community standards” was laughable. Both were articles…one about health and one a Psychology Today article about relaxing being good for you. Anyway, it’s sure opened my eyes and I wish there was something comparable. With so many differing views, like even what’s been said here, it’s hard. People get angry if you don’t agree with their politics and go after you. Maybe there’s no way at this point in time that we can converse in public.

  21. Problem with a lot of these are they are just ‘Twitter’ with a fancy skin. You can’t actually chat and post like you can on Facebook. That’s whats missing in them. I can’t stand that hashtag and @ thing. I want to just post on their ‘timeline’ and have them post on mine. Some of these are phone only which is another no no for me

    • How does this make FB the better social media….all the fancy bells & whistles, while they sell of personal info? I never posted anything like personal info, family photos (which belong to FB now!) anything I was doing at the job or home, once I was hacked on FB a few years ago. I simply dropped them because I sent a posting on FB to FBI………guess where the addy came from…………..RU address. Russia. And hacked my Amazon account, changed password. Did the same thing, filled out the form on FBI.org, copied and pasted the infor for them. Amazon froze me immediately, set me up again on a clean account.

  22. How about forget social media altogether and LIVE? You can take digital photos of your adventures and experiences, and upload them to a website that will print you a book in whatever type of binding you want. You can even add text so you can tell your story.

    Another idea is to purchase an old school video cam and record real, permanent, physical video on cassette or reel-to-reel. You could also start a video/photo library made of SIM cards from your digital devices so you always have an original hard copy which you can upload to social media at any time without worrying about permanently losing it. I don’t know how much of my life I’ve wasted online, but It’s been too much.

    Trying to spend less of my time on here and more of it in real life making money, so I can enjoy life more – debt free – politics free – sarcasm free – pseudo intellectualism free – butt pic in yoga pants free. The need to be validated is the plague of the century.

    This myopic, self-focused, self-expression-addicted society is going to implode. It won’t last long – it will destroy itself. Don’t seek a replacement, don’t seek an alternative. Simply stop living vicariously through the internet.

    Go incognito, off-grid; live a private life like the bad-ass that you really are.

      • Jamie, thank you! That is EXACTLY what i needed to hear! And you are So right!
        God bless you! Julie lost in the universe

    • This sounds great and all, it really gets you excited to watching prepper vids and going off the grid! …but It’s a straw man argument because you seem to imply that social networking is an alternative to real life, rather than just a single modern part of real life. In reality folks have a mix of real and online connections, and often the online connects are even real life connections as well – just people we don’t see often, or various other reasons. Like maybe folks have moved, been deployed, or just enjoy updating each other when not physically together at work/school/etc. There are myriad reasons to find utility in social networking sites. This isn’t the 90’s, and nearly everyone spends some amount of time doing something they value online, but that doesn’t in any way make them some looser with no real friends.

      The only reason that it has all gone to hell is because we’ve allowed the corporations to sieze control of it all and they are using methods as devious as engineering the sites to facilitate the release of serotonin and endorphins. Exactly the same as addictive drugs. If you think that’s just conspiracy nonsense then look at the work of B.J. Fogg, the guy who’s research inspired Facebook to design their user experience to be, quite literally, addictive! The greedy corporations are who need to be nixed from the equation – not us.

      The federated social network (made up of a variety of open platforms) is doing this. There’s no commercial interest, and if a commercial interest infiltrates and, say, the node operator puts up advertisements, then you move to another node. That’s simple to do by design on most platforms in the fediverse. There’s no real way to monetize a federated social platform like this, and trying to do so actually makes everyone leave. This is how it should be. If someone wants to earn a few bucks for running the node they they can accept donations and do their job well enough to earn them – otherwise they fail and someone else provides the service. Maybe you decide to spend 5 or 10 bucks a month and provide the service. But someone will, and for no reason other than than to help connect us all to one another, because that’s what we humans really desire – connection. It’s a beautiful system. It’s also easy to run your own personal fediverse node in single user mode, or tie in a plain old fashioned personal website to the fediverse, if you don’t like the idea of trusting another person to run the site properly or ethically, and many choose to do this.

      This isn’t the implosion of social networking. It’s just the beginnings.

      • Very insightful a thank you. There is a place in society for social media. But it’s our responsibility to seek out the right platform and not be dictated to/sold/mislead/experimented on! Each generation throws up a new challenge. But we must challenge those things that threaten the society we live in. Not always a case of eradicating, but often it’s simply about taking back control and ensuring that things the powers that be so not step over the mark and become too powerful!

    • Sorry but this misses how Facebook works for many of us.
      I am 56 years old and have amassed 100s of friends and 100s of acquitances over the decades and while we live sometimes 1000s of miles apart, Facebook allows me to stay in contact with them.
      This is absolutely NOT about ‘living through the internet’. It’s is simply a new way of communicating.
      Facebook for people like me is simply the phonebook and telephone box of 20 years ago.

    • I just shared this with my family. Thank you for the intelligent solution, while others just can’t let FB go………….you are so right……..someone please validate me, someone, anyone! My roommate spreads her “junk postings of trivia” all over FB. I quit them and they still will not take down my page. They simply will not acknowledge my password, so it stays up. FB is pathetic and deserves whatever legal actions are taken against them, for selling our info. Keep ’em comin’, Rob! Outstanding post!

    • Exactly my sentiment. The only thing I can add is “Quit FB, say no to Zuckerberg – feels good!”

      • I quit almost a month ago. But I like chatting and I cannot find a way to chat with people. I tried me.we but I didn’t really like it because if you don’t join a bunch of groups then you talk to the same 4 people all the time. Hahaha it just didn’t work for me

  23. Facebook has determined that they control thought, speech, and the right to sell your life to others. A syndicate of overreaching leftists! Opinion is just that. Everyone believes something in their inner most thought processes. The have the courage to share it, only to have the grimy boot of Facebook police squash their beliefs. All after they profit handsomely on your private life! Hate Facebook ,and wish there was a good alternative to what used to be a great social site. It is no longer. It is a thought control monster!

      • Mewe is going to be the next big social network platform, facebook users are moving to mewe, which is very similar to facebook without the hassle of censcorship and the ever growing insidious nature of the platform. People are fed with their gestapo tactics and and attacks on freedom of speech run by left wing liberals who don’t realise they have gone so far to the left, that they are now the new far right.

    • Considering that Facebook has just been in in the news for hiring climate deniers as fact-checkers, I would not call it leftist. I would be politically neutral and say that Mark Zuckerberg is a jerk, and leave it at that.

      • Climate deniers? No matter who they hire they will have their own opinions & beliefs just depends on what falls where. Apparently you believe in all this global warming the end is near business & I don’t. The question is why hire ‘fact checkers’ at all? Let the buyer beware. Do your own research & have your own viewpoint. They are a platform, not a governance. Or were.

  24. Mewe seems good to me. Minds had promise but don’t like where it’s going with tons of hateful people on there. Mewe also has its fair share of weirdos.. but I’ll give mewe a decent go.

  25. Facebook have blocked me for referring to the English government, in light of their murderous policies towards children, the elderly the infirm and poor in general, as Nazis.
    Not to mention their covering up of Paedophilia, among its ranks.
    One law for Facebook and another for us, rather like this corrupt+ government of this Island.
    So I’m now looking for a better alternative to Facebook.

    • No such thing an English Government. Scotland has a devolved government and Wales and NI have devolved assemblies (the latter currently suspended) but England has nothing suchlike.

      You may be referring to the Westminster Parliament, which incorporates the Government of the 4 nations, in which case you are as inaccurate in your descriptor as you are in your stump accusations.

  26. I just reported something really scary and vile on FB. They had their “experts” tell me it’s well within their community guidelines. It was publicly calling white extremists to prepare for a “race war.” Facebook is fine with that. I’m OUT. I need to do it gradually, so I can take some of my network with be – but this, on top of selling my information, on top of helping Russia elect Trump…Screw this platform. What works for you guys?

    • Justin. It sounds like YOU are directly responsible for why so many right thinking mind are looking for a fakebook replacement. The trend has been for a trump hater to like, then comment on a trump post. That comment is always malicious and designed to piss off trymp supporters. Eventually, the teump supporter says something in trumps defense that people like you would then report. That makes facebook determine the conservative always the offender and is then booted. No 1st ammendment with this current situation.

    • Did you take a screen shot? Did they use that verbiage? Like “C’mon, White Extremists, let’s arm up & eradicate the so & so’s!” Or was it like “Patriots, arm up, because it’s getting dicey out there!” ??

  27. I am moving all my business pages and myself over to MeWe. They seem to making good progress on their social media.

  28. I have an animal rescue and we’ve been using facebook to communicate within our volunteer group. The algorithm has gotten ridiculous. I don’t get notifications about posts for 10+ hours. Even if I scroll the group page, I’m not shown everything posted there. Facebook is great for getting the word out about animals looking for homes, but it’s becoming unusable as a work/volunteer group tool. We’re currently looking for a new place to call home. Looking forward to checking these suggestions out.

    • From what I learned last night, even finding homes for animals is going to be severely restricted. Many posts that involve animals being given away, rehomed, etc., are getting removed.

    • Yeah I just got put in jail for saying I boycotted Chinese due to their treatment of animals. And described it. They call it hate speech. I don’t think you are allowed to show it anymore either. Very protective of Chinese. Zuckerberg learned Mandarin to communicate with wife’s family so you are not allowed to tell harsh facts.

  29. I’ve been blocked from Facebook for the third time this year for posts I made over three years ago! I’m sick of the way they are taking away our freedom of speech, they’ve done this to so many of my FB friends as well! I had to delete FB messenger because they wanted my billing information to download the latest version! FACEBOOK has become nothing but a place of censorship for Conservatives, I really need to find another alternative but with so many to choose from I don’t know which one to use, any suggestions.

    • I’m currently in a 7 day ban from facebook for posting something that would make liberal’s triggered. I can assure you it is not a conservative social media platform under any circumstance

    • Same here. I was blocked for sharing a picture in 2016. I got to find another social media.

    • 🤣🤣🤣 OMG 3 years ago?!? Well if they want to go back through my timeline for the last decade or so I’m definitely banned for life. The times I Have gotten in trouble I really did not even say anything!
      Plus – they wanted Billing info to download Messenger? I never heard of that sounds like you were hacked.

  30. I have always loved Facebook but lately they are removing some of my posts. I only share pictures if my family, and post things to make friends laugh, recipes, whats going on in my life and my feeling. I loved the memories feature, photos, being able to accessorize my page. I don’t know which direction to turn. I don’t post political issues because I feel we all have a right to there option.

  31. I am leaving Facebook. I’m going to try Ello or if don’t like, i’ll try mastodon. I’ll find something better Than fb hacking.

  32. What about Ello or Diaspora? I have been getting kicked completely out of Facebook and I have had to delete my app several times. And I know that I have let my friends on Facebook know that I was looking for something outside of Facebook. My Aunt as well as a few others are looking too. But I told them as soon as I find something I would let them know. I don’t think I should be discriminated against for being conservative and this to is happening on Facebook as well.

    • GOOD FOR YOU!!! IM WITH YOU TOO! I’m tired of being banned in FB for being conservative!!! If you find some place good for conservatives please let me know. Thank you

  33. It is good to read these comments. I am also looking for somewhere else to go. I do not like what fb is doing either. I have been reading some on these othe websites and as for me, i think i will try Mastodon. I like the things i have read about it. Good luck to everyone that is deciding to go somewhere else. Because it isn’t right that fb is trying to control everybody.

  34. Third Eye really has a 3rd eye to see through with!
    It looks like what people are runini away from fb will seem more vicious elsewhere.

  35. I will be 77 years old in a few weeks and the last 5 years I had built a network of friends and family of course, like everyone else, posted family pictures for posterity… anyway, was locked out due to a technicality and was so very lonely after 3 months I started a new account – my frieds were excited to reconnect and I felt like a kid in a candy store. 5 Days later am locked out again and bereft.

    I need to know what alternatives to FB are working for people that you can actually get your family to subscribe to..

    • I’m 75 and don’t care for facebook any longer.
      Computers hate me as much as I hate them.

      One question. If I left Facebook and go to another, how much data meaning ITunes,Favorites and my pictures will be lost? There are tons of each and I want to save it as it is.

      I don’t really do anything but collect car photos and music (which there are tons of each) and talk with other people.
      What or how much stuff will I lose by switching? How do I get rid of Facebook?

      • @Larry

        If you close your FB account – you actually wont lose anything. FB keeps your info in case you change your mind. In terms of iTunes, pictures and favourites – they are on your PC – not on FB, so you wont lose any of those.

  36. Jolyn
    I have same problem.. Someone has hacked mine 3 times and have had to start again. They want more info which I’m not prepared to give… Sincerely looking at changing if I can..

  37. Jolyn, I agree with you wholeheartedly. This very same thing has happened to me. This will be the 4th time. I already started 3 times, and my friends can still see there are 3 more FB’s that belong to me out there. I don’t feel right about sending any more info. It all seems wrong… Come to think of it, Because I was hacked, then why would I want to use that same one anyway…I wish there was an alternative to fb.

  38. Fb…just did that to me ..cut me off after a hacker hacked into my account. They’re asking for photo proof, age and my name..the list of documuments they will accept to send as proof is my ss card ..drivers licenses..things i’m not really sure i want them to see..they tell me to cover up some of the information but my address will still be visible. I even asked if this was FB. No response except they can not go future without proof..

    i have asked for instructions on how to get this to them..i have no idea how to send …no response …they say i have pertented to be someone else on this account. I have since the beginning of fb…i have had hackers before get in ..on this same acct. Never was ask to prove who i am…i am doing some serious thought of deleting my fb..they have locked me out…they are not talking to me…very controlling company they have become..personally i believe its poitical.. which ..if any of these social media are best for me to jump to.?

    Can anyone tell me . I would love to hear from anyone out there…fb is getting to controlling and indifferent with their clients..ty

    • I’m having a similar problem with Facebook. I have an assistant who was supposed to conduct a Facebook campaign for me; she still hasn’t started but in the meantime, she told me she couldn’t conduct the campaign unless I gave her my Facebook log-in info., which to my sorrow I gave to her. Now, I can’t get into my Facebook account. They’ve asked for documents to prove who I am and, like you, I don’t like the invasion of privacy. They have a second level of documents that they will supposedly accept, such as library cards, professional membership cards, and health insurance cards which don’t have the kind of personal information that I am unwilling to share. When I sent them these, they e-mailed me to say I hadn’t sent the kinds of documents they require (untrue) and when I e-mailed them in response, well, they have not responded to me and I am still locked out of my account. BIG BUMMER. I also don’t like the uses that Facebook has allowed, such as influencing elections and recently, allowing the U.S. government to pursue certain types of suspected mis-deeds through Facebook. When/if I can get back in, I am very seriously considering deleting my Facebook account and finding an alternative.

    • Hi, did you find an alternative to FB yet? If you did, please let me and many of us know here so we can jump to that platform as well. F**k FB!!! Thanks

    • @Jolyn. FB did that to me. I wasn’t prepared to give them the very personal info that they asked for. After all, it’s just social media. So I ignored them and let the profile sit. Sure enough, after a couple of months I got the “Hey! get back onto FB now!” message. I clicked the link and presto! account reactivated – without any ersonal info provided. Never forget, unless you forget, they need us more than we need them. FB makes money from us – we just get a social media experience.

    • Hi Jolyn, the exact same thing just happened to me. I have followed all of their instructions, sent numerous proofs of who I am but none of the solutions work and they have blocked me from using a new account also. Meanwhile a hacker has control of my FB acct. I am upset and angry that they won’t fix this for me—I have been on Facebook for 17 years, using this same account. WTH? I think perhaps it IS political and they have deliberately blocked me. I have gone through every channel I can find to report this without any response whatsoever. So I guess I have to give up on FB. BTW, did they ever fix this problem for you?

  39. Thanks. It’s a confusing choice. It looks like the ‘decentralised’ ones, such as Diaspora, Mastodon, Friendica and Hubzilla offer the complete opposite to Facebook. Where you can change provider just like changing email providers, yet still have access to all your friends. Where Facebook will blackmail you to stay, or cut off all contacts.

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