Ask HN: Serious FB alternatives?

8 points by dord 15 years ago | 10 comments

Hi HN, I figure with your expertise in start ups and hot tech companies, you would be the best resource for answering a simple question: is there a social network out there that doesn't suck? In my opinion, FB has become a terrible user experience that just keeps getting worse. The most recent experience being that I keep getting added to stupid groups by my friends, to which the only solution is to immediately remove myself. Is this a joke or something for which I am dumb to the punchline? This feature alone is infuriating. So is there a social network that isn't just out to exploit me and my information, or even if they do, can they at least give me more control over my own identity?

PaulHoule 15 years ago |

On some level I find it hard to take Facebook or most other social networks "seriously" because they mainly exist for frivolous entertainment. (And for marketing, which I suppose is serious, but you don't sound like you're interested in marketing)

Part of what makes social media "social" is that your identity is defined by you plus the community around you, so you've never really going to control your own identity.

Other people can't put things in your Twitter feed and if you want "real control" you can get a domain name and make a personal site. Even then there's nothing to stop somebody from saying you're a jackass on other web sites.

dord 15 years ago | |

That's a good point about controlling your identity. I think that's really the only reason I still have a FB account: I can remove myself from irresponsible content my friends post. However I think this FB groups fiasco clearly crosses a line.

jakkinabox 15 years ago |

It seems like your problem with Facebook is your friends rather than the platform. While I think letting friends add friends to groups is slightly strange behavior, none of my friends have abused this. I think Facebook sees it similar to being tagged in a photo by a friend which can make sense. Photo tagging can be abused too - but only by people you allow.

elektrolyte79 15 years ago |

Diaspora is one alternative. I had the pleasure of meeting the founders and they are great guys. Their philosophy around social networks is that its your information and you should be able to control it, take it with you and share it on your terms. It is still in the Beta stage so if you would like to join, send me your email address and I'll send you an invitation to join so you can check it out. Another one, which is mobile only, is Colors. It's photo based and uses location and frequency of interaction to manage what information you share with whom. You can find it on the iTunes app store. Hope that helps!

dord 15 years ago | |

I had sorta forgotten about those guys after the unfavorable media about security vulnerabilities. As a developer I know how important it is to have security built into the foundation of a product and since that first impression I'm just not convinced that they have the technical chops to build a solid product if they didn't get security right.

Thanks for the invite but I think I want to wait a little bit longer and see where they go.

elektrolyte79 15 years ago | | |

they are currently working with the Pivotal Labs team. They are not building it on their own - they have technical/backend/security support now.

beatpanda 15 years ago | |

I sent you an email, please send an invite my way if you have one!

bmelton 15 years ago |

The Fridge is generally similar to Facebook in function, but is supposedly much easier to control who sees what, and segments off your work life from your family life from your friends.

I haven't used it, but it's YC funded I believe, and gets rave reviews: http://www.frid.ge/

trickjarrett 15 years ago | |

I like the Fridge, it seems fairly solid, simple to use, and fun. But there are two main problems with it:

1) Getting friends etc. to buy in. Until I do, I'm suffering from the ghost town problem.

2) There isn't a compelling use-case for me. Sure I'd like to get my family using it, except more and more of them are on Facebook and are fine using it. I don't have a compelling argument to get us to switch to Fridge (or some other smaller social network.)

I would try to get my workplace on it, but even then we're all friends on Facebook so what's the point?

I want to use it, I like it, I like the control it gives me, but I am struggling with the why and how.

pkamb 15 years ago |

"real life"