Social media alternatives

Short, honest guides for anyone looking for something quieter than the mainstream feeds — what changes when a network drops ads, ranking and infinite scroll, and where the trade-offs are.

• Social media alternatives without ads or an algorithm

  What to look for in an ad-free, algorithm-free social network — and how chronological, invite-only networks like Roots compare to the mainstream feeds.

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• Facebook alternatives for keeping up with close friends

  If you only use Facebook for birthdays, photos and family updates, here is what a smaller, private alternative needs to replace — and what you give up.

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• Chronological timeline social networks: why ordering matters

  Ranked feeds changed what people post, not just what they read. A look at chronological timelines, finite feeds and the networks that still use them.

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• Private social networks for a small circle

  Group chats, shared albums and invite-only networks all solve the same problem differently. How to pick one for a small, private circle.

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