Even before the recent TikTok ban and the surgeon general’s concerns about mental health, public attitudes toward social media had changed.Many people are turning to online communities on less populated networks, such as next door Get rid of the overload of influencers, advertisers, data mining, and political divisiveness that typically dominate the big mainstream platforms.
Facebook and other sites do offer the ability to create private groups. But if you want a change, you can set up your own personal ad-free space elsewhere and get an exclusive membership. Here’s what you can do.
getting Started
Before you step out to your own microsocial network, think about what you want it to be. Is your group mostly posting photos, or are you looking for a place to share status updates, pictures, videos, and links? How will people log in—iPhone, Android phone, tablet, or desktop browser?
Next, search your app store for “private photo sharing” or “private social media” to see your options.
Even if your team is comfortable sticking with familiar methods like WhatsApp groups, messaging apps, or answering all emails, adding social activity can be costly for those with limited data or messaging plans. If the focus is on photo sharing, be sure to consider an app or service that includes ample file storage or the option to purchase more space.
pay your way
Private social media apps work much like larger platforms for sharing status updates, comments, photos, and videos (although they may lack tools like photo filters and video effects). In some cases, you pay a small fee — but you can share without ads and with fewer personal information concerns.
For example, relatives The owner of the private space is required to purchase a subscription—but everyone else can join the group for free. Kin “spaces” include storyboards for members to share photos and comments, chat features and other familiar tools. Plans start at $4 per month with 50 GB of storage and an unlimited number of members.
photo circle is an alternative to the more intuitive circle of friends and family. There’s an ad-supported version of the app, but you can get rid of the ads and focus on everyone’s great photos by upgrading to a PhotoCircle+ subscription for around $8 per person per year.
Phone-free photo sharing
If your primary goal is to communicate with everyone In your family — including those who don’t own a smartphone or aren’t particularly tech-savvy — you still have options.
For example, both google photos and apple photo The application supports shared photo albums, and multiple people can add, view and comment on pictures in the photo album through mobile phones, tablets and computer browsers. Use the “Shared Album” setting when creating a new album, then give it a name and add the email addresses of the people you want to see your photos. Once they accept your invitation, they can see the photo and get alerted when new images are added.
You can similarly share browser-based photo albums with selected people drop box, Flickr, blinds and many other online storage services you may already use.
However, if your family member has an extremely limited tolerance for technology, but still wants to see Every Single baby or vacation pics? An internet-connected digital photo frame might be the solution.
Wirecutter, a product review site owned by The New York Times, tested several digital photo frames and recommends the $150 Aura Carver Model with its crisp 10.1-inch screen and easy setup; $200 Halo Mason frame is also known for displaying photos in vertical portrait orientation.Once you connect the frame to the Internet for the recipient, you and other family members can Aura smartphone app.
small group big event
Keeping selected people informed about your major life milestones is another reason to use a private social space.For example, you can use nonprofit love bridge Platform creates a free, safe, ad-free website to share important health news with friends and family.
New parents are probably the biggest generators of photos that require privacy.and has many applications, including family album(free or $5 per month premium version for features such as longer videos), honeycomb (free) and Germinate (Free; iPhone only).
No matter which app or service you use, read the company’s privacy policy carefully, and make sure to keep your safety locked out of the world outside of your chosen group. Even if you decide to keep using your old social media platform, check your privacy and security controls there. Wirecutter also provides guides for major social media and messaging apps.
