Unthink is a new service that has been touted, according to CNN, to be the new “Anti-Facebook” social networking site, or rather social revolution as they describe themselves (we will have to see if this is indeed acurate). There have been many that came before, trying to take down the giant that is now Facebook, but none has succeeded yet and many have failed hard in trying. This article will take a look at some of the potential behind Unthink.com and the chances it may have at success.
What is Unthink?
Unthink is essentially the end product of hordes of disgruntled Facebook and Google+ users, including the CEO herself, with how privacy is handled on the social network giant. Many users, including myself, have found themselves feeling violated from the intrusive, forceful and relentless method that Facebook uses in going about leveraging your private data to market products with its partner companies. Unthink is meant to be the opposite of that concept, putting ownership of the information back into the hands of the users and opting for alternatives to building a database of your entire life in order to recommend better movies to you or your friends.
How does Unthink Work?
At its core, there are many similar features to most of the network sites such as your status feeds and so forth, however, the significant separation everyone is interested in, is the difference in financing itself. Instead of using your information to leverage marketing, users are supposedly able to pick a sponsor, essentially choosing an advertiser to be displayed on their profile or alternatively pay $2 a year for an add free experience. In addition, your information is owned by you as opposed to the site that comes as somewhat of an assurance that things won’t change down the road.
Will Unthink Succeed?
It is still uncertain so early in the service’s launch, but its early beta stages and the recent over capacity status messages of the servers seem to suggest significant early interest. I know, I personally will be looking to use the service and many others have been waiting for an excuse to find something new. One think working in Unthinks favor however, is it only needs to secure a small share of FB’s user base to make it a success and chances are good.
“The more Facebook wants me to share, the more anti-social I become.”
Doug Gross, “Upstart Unthink wants to become the new anti-Facebook,” CNN.com