In today’s society, many people are starting to move away from large social media platforms such as Facebook and towards smaller, less populated networks like Nextdoor. The overload of influencers, advertisers, data-mining, and political divisiveness on these larger platforms have led to increased mental health concerns and a desire for a private social space. You can set up your own personal, ad-free space with an exclusive membership elsewhere. Before you begin, think about what you want your group to consist of in terms of shared content and what device people will log in from. There are many apps available for private social media, which are similar to larger platforms in terms of how they work but have fewer personal information concerns. Many also require a small fee, but with this, you can enjoy ad-free sharing. For example, the Kin app requires a subscription fee for the host of the private space starting at $4 a month and includes a chat function and other familiar tools. Photocircle, on the other hand, is an excellent choice for sharing photos, with an ad-supported version and an option to upgrade to a paid subscription for about $8 per year per person. In addition, shared photo albums can be created through Google Photos and Apple’s Photos app where multiple people can add, view, and comment on pictures in that album from their devices. For people who are not technology-inclined, an internet-connected digital picture frame can be used to share photos. The Aura Carver model is recommended, with a sharp 10.1-inch screen and ease of setup. A private social space can also be useful for sharing significant life milestones with selected family and friends, with a platform such as CaringBridge available to create an ad-free site for sharing serious health news. Finally, it is crucial to read a company’s privacy policy carefully and ensure that security is locked to the chosen group. Reviewing privacy and security controls on older social media platforms is also recommended.
