Vero - True social

In the ever-changing social media landscape the users no longer, in the same extent, choose the content that reaches them. The content you see is controlled by algorithms in an attempt to personalize the users experience and to be met by content and ads you presumably like. However, the appearance of filter bubbles is a highly discussed issue. Since all users have their own personalized flow containing content suited for them they mostly get content they already agree with. Politically you get biased messages and get bombarded without realizing that everybody doesn’t see the same messages as you. Users therefore get isolated from information that disagrees or argues with their point of view and in their own idealogical and cultural bubble, which gives the users a skew view on reality.

Muzar Sherif is a professor in communication studies. He proclaimed that an individuals attitude is not simply positive or negative but can be measured on a scale. If you, for example, have negative a negative attitude about one subject or idea you are on the rejection side of the scale, and the strength of the attitude decides the position on the scale. If the information you receive is in line with your current attitude you will get more anchored on your scale and pushed deeper into your current attitude, which makes it harder to take in contradicting facts and information. This theory is called social judgement theory and is well established within the communication field.

So what if we could cut the algorithms out from the social media platforms, if we could take back control of the content that reaches us and completely get rid of these pesky filter bubbles? If artists and musicians wouldn’t have to pay for ads to reach people who actively chose to follow them. What if we wouldn’t have to get bombarded with ads showcasing content regarding our latest Google searches every time they log in. What if topics could be discussed and presented with facts and input from all angles. Simply put, what if we could put focus back on the social part of social media. Creative Bloq says that ”Vero is being presented as the next logical step for people who want to connect and share online”.

“In a world where you are what you post, Vero serves the needs and desires of people who want a safe, genuine reflection of their real-life relationships in an online setting. We have created a platform where users can express themselves in the most natural way possible,” said Ayman Hariri, CEO and Co-Founder of Vero. Vero is the new kid on the block, that just surpassed one million registered users. Vero themselves explains it as a truly Social Network that celebrates people’s passions without algorithms, ads, or bots. However, since there aren’t any ads, and they obviously have to fund it somehow, Vero won’t stay free of charge forever. They made a promise, the ”first million users have access to Vero free for life. However, given the service interruptions, they are ”extending that offer to all new users until further notice”, so if you want to jump on the Vero train, now is the time to do it.

I am currently getting used to the interface and you have to love the simplicity of the functions. It is also very aesthetically pleasing, following the graphic design trends of 2018. However, Vero is still the new kid. It sometimes freezes and you might have to wait a while for hashtags, images or videos to load, and I think this is to reason it has gotten some reviews on iTunes and App store that aren’t in their favor. Vero themselves say that ”due to the large wave of new users joining over the past several days, we have encountered technical issues which have left many experiencing service interruptions”, and I think if we are just patient and let them work these kinks out, Vero will be a platform to reckon with and take back social media to the users. Read more at Vero.co.

#Socialmedia #vero #algorithm #communication