Software:True (app)

From HandWiki
Short description: Social media platform


True is a multimedia social media platform for sharing with family, friends and groups without ads, tracking or fees.[1] The platform emphasizes privacy, real relationships over followers, and a business model that does not rely on surveillance capitalism.[2] As of June 2023, True has more than a million downloads on the Apple App Store and Google Play.[3],[4]

True was created in Mill Valley, California by software entrepreneur Bret Cox as an alternative to Facebook.[5] Its lead investor is former Microsoft executive and billionaire Paul Maritz, who has committed $15 million to the product's development.[6] True has around 20 employees as of 2023.[5]

History

Following the Facebook Cambridge Analytica controversy, Cox became fed up with the way Meta Platforms handled user data on Facebook and Instagram and decided to create a new social platform where people could connect without their personal information being used for targeted advertising.[7] The result of this effort was True, which had a soft launch in 2021 followed by an official launch in August 2022.[5],[6]

True's user base doubled over the 2022 holiday season[6]. In February 2023, the app was ranked first on Inc.'s list "5 Emerging Social Media Platforms to Watch in 2023".[8]

Features

True users connect with each other in Threads, groups that are similar to a priate messaging system combined with a rich media social feed.[9] Users can create invitation-only Private Threads or Public Threads that are discoverable to others on the app.[10] Content creators have also found success on True, among them KTLA technology journalist Rich DeMuro.[11]

True was built on principles of privacy by design and value sensitive design.[7] For example, content in a Thread is not visible outside the app regardless of whether the Thread is public or private.[8] True does not have an open API or share information with third-party developers, nor does it track users' activity off the app, two key privacy concerns with Facebook.[7] When a user on True deletes their account, it is immediately and permanently removed from the server.[12]

True's design has been described as "bright and cheery" and "simple...minimalistic, yet modern and inviting".[13],[9] Its look and feel was inspired by Mill Valley's abundant natural beauty.[12]

Business Model

True is free to download and use on all operating systems. The app plans to eventually introduce keyword-based ads similar to those used DuckDuckGo's private search engine.[14] The ads will appear only in public Threads; private Threads will remain ad-free.[8]

True may also consider incorporating in-app purchases, such as the opportunity to pay for additional public content or features.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "True on Google Play". https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=hellomobile.hello. 
  2. ↑ "True Official Website". https://trytrue.com. 
  3. ↑ "True Google Play Statistics". https://app.sensortower.com/overview/hellomobile.hello?metric=units&utab=summary&tab=about&country=US. 
  4. ↑ "True App Store Sensor Tower Statistics". https://app.sensortower.com/overview/834451429?metric=units&utab=summary&tab=about&country=US. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Hays, Kali (14 January 2023). "True, a budding social platform with $15 million in backing from Microsoft veteran Paul Maritz, takes aim at Facebook by rejecting user tracking and targeted ads". https://www.businessinsider.com/a-new-private-social-platform-true-takes-aim-at-facebook-2023-1. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Bishop, Todd (27 January 2023). "Microsoft and VMware vet Paul Maritz backs social app that vows not to monetize user data". GeekWire. https://www.geekwire.com/2023/microsoft-and-vmware-vet-paul-maritz-backs-social-app-built-on-promise-of-user-privacy/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Barker, Ian (February 2023). "Prioritizing privacy and making social media 'social' again [Q&A"]. Beta News. https://betanews.com/2023/02/20/prioritizing-privacy-and-making-social-media-social-again-qa/. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Wang, Xintian Tina (February 2023). "5 Emerging Social Media Platforms to Watch in 2023". Inc.. https://www.inc.com/xintian-tina-wang/5-emerging-social-media-platforms-to-watch-in-2023.html. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lucic, Kristijan (28 December 2022). "'True' app wants to rival Facebook with a privacy angle". Android Headlines. https://www.androidheadlines.com/2022/12/true-app-android-facebook-rival.html. 
  10. ↑ Murphy, David (6 February 2023). "Putting the "social" back in social media by rethinking privacy". Mobile Marketing Magazine. https://mobilemarketingmagazine.com/putting-the-social-back-in-social-media-by-rethinking-privacy. 
  11. ↑ DeMuro, Rich (4 February 2023). "The Rich on Tech Radio Show Episode 05". iHeart Radio. https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-rich-on-tech-43096746/episode/005-rich-on-tech-radio-show-108355742/. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "True FAQ". https://trytrue.com/faq.html. 
  13. ↑ DeMuro, Rich (30 January 2023). "True App takes on Facebook, promises no ads or tracking". KTLA 5. https://ktla.com/morning-news/true-app-takes-on-facebook-with-promise-of-no-ads-tracking/. 
  14. ↑ Bowden, Ashley (15 February 2023). "True Aims to Reroute How Users Connect on Social Media". Built In San Francisco. https://www.builtinsf.com/2023/02/15/san-francisco-future-5-company-true-q1-2023. 
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