Friends flee Facebook in hunt for new social media
SOCIAL media analysts say “anti-Facebook sentiment” is at an all-time high after the company’s bold move to ban hundreds of pages from its platform in Australia, and alternatives such as Australian made network LITT, hyperlocal network Nextdoor, and privacy-focused MeWe are signing up disaffected Facebook users.
The US tech giant banned all news from being shared or seen on its platform in Australia for eight days to protest news laws.
But social media strategist Meg Coffey said the ban appeared to have backfired on the company and would make users rethink how much time and effort they put into the platform, and smaller firms reconsider their Facebook investments.
“I think Facebook underestimated the Australian public and they will be looking for alternatives,” she said.
“The anti-Facebook sentiment has been growing over the years. It’s not that we’re spending less time on social media, we’re just not on Facebook.”
Those alternatives include the ad-free MeWe, whose founder Mark Weinstein told News Corp he expected a wave of new Aussie sign-ups following Facebook’s ban.
“We know there’s a group of 250,000 rugby players already using the app, and we see four or five per cent of our members coming from Australia,” he said.
Another Facebook substitute is LITT, an Australian start-up that launched last year and promises to reward members with credits for watching ads and offer more reporting tools.
Co-founder Peter Salom said the company had seen a spike in interest over the past week and “our numbers represent a surge in people looking for an alternative”.
5 BEST ALTERNATIVES TO FACEBOOK
1. Nextdoor: This “hyperlocal” app only shows content from those living near you, has grown a sizeable audience since launching here in 2018, and could replace local Facebook groups.
2. MeWe: A genuine Facebook alternative, this app stands out by promising no ads, no algorithm to serve content, and greater privacy. It is funded by members who take out optional $7.99/m premium subscriptions.
3. Clubhouse: This audiobased iPhone app has been described as the social network for people who don’t want to read. Users find their friends, name their interests and can then join virtual rooms to listen or participate in discussions.
4. LITT: This unique, Australian-made app is a social network where users can share photos and videos, but can also earn credits from the ads they watch to spend in local businesses.
5. Vero: This Facebook alternative feels a little like Instagram, offerings users the chance to share and like photos, music and articles. Messages and voice calls are also available and the platform boasts more than five million users.
VEHICLES ranging from a 1950s Holden to a 1970s Kombi van — and even a jet boat — are up for grabs at a local auction expected to fetch a total of well over $1m.
The Pickles Tasmania classic and unique vehicles and collectibles online auction started on Friday and features vehicles including headliners such as a 1974 Holden Torana LH Sedan, 1950 Holden 48-215 and 1974 Ford Falcon XB GT.
Other vehicles set to go under the virtual hammer include a 1928 Essex Super Six, 1976 Volkswagen Kombi Transporter and a 2005 Fibremaster Jet Sprinter.
The 1950 Holden was the first model from General Motors in Australia to bear the Holden name and gained the unofficial nickname of Holden FX.
Auction manager Roger Hurd said there was interest in the event from all over the country and from overseas.
He said the 1974 Ford
Falcon had been owned by just one Hobart family.
“That’s attracted a huge amount of attention because it fits into that whole era of Holden versus Ford,” he said.
“That could go for anywhere from $70,000 to $120,000.”
The combined total of the reserve prices of all 53 vehicles is expected to be well over $1m, Mr Hurd said.
The online auction runs until Tuesday, with viewings by appointment at Pickles in Moonah.