Why isn’t there an alternative to FB that respects privacy of members’ private messages?

Google Plus tried it but never made it.

I agree, I’d love to bail on FB but it’s the default way to connect with so much.

There is an alternative:
Do not use facebook.

^^Well unfortunately it’s a great site to connect with families, friends and collaborate with like minded people on certain projects and it’s a bit confounding why there isn’t an alternative close to it.

Why isn’t there? Well, it takes something to create such a thing and then build it up. And a poor concept or business model or delivery or depletion of funding or dozens of other things, or just plain bad timing, could bring it down. Remember MySpace?

The power of Facebook is in its popularity, and its popularity is in its power. Anything new that comes along has to compete with that. There might be 200 or 200,000 systems out there that are already trying to do that, and it could be another ten years before you hear of it.

The other day I asked my son to go call my husband to supper (that is, let him know the meal was ready). My son stood in the kitchen and yelled, “Dad, supper’s ready.” Then he turned to me and said, “Wireless communication.” There’s always that.

I’m ready to move to any start-up site if one is out there. Ask my friends and collaborators to try it too. If they respect privacy it’s just a matter of weeks before they gain so many members since I have a feeling thousands of people feel the same way I do.

With so many start-ups and venture capitalists out there the mystery is why hasn’t a single one wants to siphon off disenchanted FB users.

When big tech took over people couldn’t wait to get all the latest gadgets thereby giving away all privacy. Privacy now may be only in your mind. “We” did it to ourselves!

Still doesn’t answer why no one wants to compete with FB.

And if the reason is there should be no more expectation of privacy over private messages ( hence it’s called private ) then companies should put it out there in bold letters everyday before signing in.

I guess it depends on what you are looking for. The kiddos seem to prefer Instagram, Snapchat, or other platforms for communication (including texting). And there is Reddit for interests, and Twitter for news/politics, and LinkedIn for professional networking. So, I think it’s more fragmented than Facebook’s approach at trying to do everything.

I suppose it’s possible that some other large social network could step in the way Facebook did to MySpace. But I honestly don’t think people are interested in that any longer. The problems with Facebook are not limited to privacy issues (which are a result of its business model).

Yes, I would like to have a site close if not exactly like FB which is unfragmented.

And even if FB has no issues re respecting privacy I think it should still have a competition to keep it from being potentially abusive and exploitative towards its supposedly 2 billion members.

@mazingerz88: “And even if FB has no issues re respecting privacy I think it should still have a competition to keep it from being potentially abusive and exploitatIve towards its supposedly 2 billion members.”

But in a “free” model, you are the product. By definition, your activities, interests, networks, etc are the currency you trade for their service. Any potential competitor would have to do the same thing or charge a fee.

Facebook should start charging for privacy privileges then. And not surprise members with exposing messages labeled private.

It might be in the fine print I don’t know. Probably gives them cover from being sued.

And btw FB should with utmost clarity announce in all global media out there that its members are their products.

Sadly FB has absorbed any and all hobby forums I used to frequent.