Let’s face it: Facebook is kind of creepy. Between facial recognition technology, demanding your real name, and mining your accounts for data, social media is becoming increasingly invasive. Users have looked for alternatives to mainstream social media that genuinely value privacy, but the alternatives to Facebook have been lackluster.
MeWe is poised to change all of that, if it can muster up a network strong enough to compete with Facebook. On paper, the new social media site seems to offer everything Facebook does and more, but with privacy as a foundation of its business model. Said MeWe user Melissa F., “It’s about time someone figured out that privacy and social media can go hand in hand.”
MeWe prioritizes privacy in every aspect of the site, and in fact, users are protected by a “Privacy Bill of Rights.” MeWe does not track, mine, or share your data, and does not use facial recognition software or cookies. (In fact, you can take a survey on MeWe to estimate how many cookies are currently tracking you – apparently I have 18 cookies spying on me!)
You don’t have to share that “as of [DATE] my content belongs to me” status anymore.
Everything you post on MeWe belongs to you – the site does not try to claim ownership over your content – and you can download your profile in its entirety at any time. MeWe doesn’t even pester you with advertising. Instead of making money by selling your data (hence the hashtag #Not4Sale) or advertising, the site plans to profit by offering additional paid services, like extra data and bonus apps.
So what does MeWe do? Everything Facebook does, and more. You can share photos and videos, send messages or live chat. You can also attach voice messages to any of your posts, photos, or videos, and you can create Snapchat-like disappearing content.
You can also sync your profile to stash content in your personal storage cloud. Everything you post is protected, and you can fine-tune the permission controls so that you can decide exactly who gets to see your content and who doesn’t – “no creepy stalkers or strangers.”
MeWe is available for Android, iOS, desktops, and tablets.
This story was originally published in January 2016, but the social network suddenly appears to be gaining traction.
subrosa
February 16, 2016 at 12:16 pm
I gave Diaspora a try and then I gave Ello a try. After a few months it became obvious that neither was going to be an alternative to Facebook. MeWe is different. It has a chance. But only if FB friends actually start signing up to MeWe.
Pingback: MeWe – the social network for your inner Ron Swanson | Choice Information In One Place
John M Poltrack
January 11, 2019 at 6:41 am
I’ve been shopping for alternatives for Google Communities and MeWe fits the bill. I’ve created a private group for friends and family. Of course it will be very hard to have people leave FB since “all their friends are there”. Hopefully their business model of selling services, storage, pages and emoticons will work. Give it try.
Charlotte
March 18, 2019 at 1:49 pm
Can you answer a question for me, please. When mewe says it gives us 8GB of storage free, what does that mean? What am I “storing”? Are posts considered things that are stored? Obviously this affects how much is shared.
Chris Shouse
May 18, 2019 at 11:54 am
MEWE has its share of creeps creeping in. In order for it to be good for marketers, you have to join groups that are really just like FB spam groups. There is very little socializing done on your profile. MEWE leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Now WebTalk may be a viable alternative 🙂