Two former WhatsApp engineers have launched a new, private social network called HalloApp, which focuses more on close relationships and remaining ad-free.
Halloapp private social network – Ad-free, Bot-free, without friend request.
HalloApp quietly launched on Tuesday, available for download on the App Store and Google Play Store. The new app shares many similarities with WhatsApp, such as its focus on maintaining relationships with close friends and family via encrypted messaging. But it eschews bombarding users with ads and, as noted in a post on the app's official blog, "an algorithmic feed of meaningless content."
HalloApp has a minimalist design and aesthetic. It is divided into four main tabs: a feed for messages from friends, group chats, individual chats, and settings. There are no algorithms that sort messages by what the app thinks a user would like to see. The app also has no ads, likes, or followers; it is intended for use in small groups.
The app was developed and co-founded by Neeraj Arora and Michael Donohue, both of whom worked at WhatsApp before and after Facebook acquired WhatsApp. Arora wrote HalloApp's first blog post, in which he subtly criticizes larger social media companies, even going so far as to call social media "the cigarette of the 21st century," adding, "The more we inhale, the sicker we get."
