Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat... the list of social networking sites is mushrooming. Before we get a hold of one, a new one comes up. Each promising a new feature in every version. With us glued to our mobile screens 24*7, be it updating a status, uploading a pic, or sharing some interesting news, are we ready to welcome another new network into this already existing crowd?
Looks like Orkut Buyukkokten, man behind the social networking site Orkut.com, thinks we will as he comes back with a new social network site called Hello. The site is currently active in US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Ireland among others. India will see its launch sometime in September. It was after he left google in March 2014, that Orkut started working on Hello with four of his co-workers. They have been working on it for over two years.
Here are six features that the new social networking sites lists on the website:
1. Personas: This is a community focused on a particular passion. Here you can choose 5 out of 100+ personas you most identify with.
2. Folio: Your folio is a personalized feed of content relevant to your chosen personas.
3. Potentials: Potentials are people Hello would like to introduce you to, based on your personas, location and personality.
4. Connections: Create more meaningful connections with the direct messaging feature, including photos, gifts and unique expressions.
5. Leaderboards: The more interactions your contributions generate, the more likely you will become a persona leader.
6. Milestones & rewards: Reach milestones, unlock rewards, and add layers of fun to your social connections as you venture through hello.
While Hello founder has said that there will be a 'Bollywood Persona'added to the site before it is launched in India, our excited Times NIE students tell us what new features they would like to see in new social networking sites:
Facebook is boring now. Hello, am sure has done its homework and will come up with something new that would have a great impact on the masses, who are looking to get a break from 'Facebook' life. More than anything, if it has a strict privacy policy, along with efficient tracking systems to monitor any fishy activities to prevent cyber crime, I feel we need more such social networking sites.
Vehaan Handa, class VII, Vidya Valley school, Pune
I think some new emojis that have never been created before would add a new look to the social networking site.
Mahak Jain, class XI, Sushila Birla Girls School, Kolkata
I hope it will have better privacy and security settings as that's the need of the hour.
Ayera Choudhary, class XI, Bhavan Vidyalaya, Panchkula
I really hope it will be different from Facebook and Whatsapp. I would like to see a dislike button and monitoring of any vulgar content. Further, the site should change our perspective and the way we think. It should be the kind of social network that resurrects the bond that's lost between people.
Vatsal Kothari, class XII, Jain International School, Nagpur
The primary reason I'm looking forward to a new social site is because I am hoping that it would promise a hassle-free forum for users to connect and idealise. The most interesting features promised are anonymity and personalisation. In a time, where there's unnecessary surveillance for almost everything, cyber privacy and little to no spam are the key words in marketing an app.
Sai Smrithi, class XI, Holy Angels School, Chennai
Hello has a huge challenge to overstep- that is tapping into audiences of the existing social networking sites such as Facebook and Instagram. Hence, it will be good to see that the features it introduces are different from what we have been seeing till now.
Purthi Jain, class XII, DPS Dwarka, Delhi
I hope Hello will be more interesting than Orkut. In order to stand out from the crowd, I think Hello will have to have features that are not just in trend but also can become a trend in itself.
Richa Shamra, class XII, DPS, Ahmedabad
I think like everything in the world, even social networking sites too have an expiry date. Hello should have something extraordinary to fiddle with. Something that will get the new generation hooked and become a sensation.
Asavari Singh, class X, Wisdom World School, Pune
With us, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram have established themselves as the social networking sites. For Hello to make a mark in this market seems unrealistic. I think all the social networks have overused whatever little was left of introducing something new to attract audience. Hence, I am not sure what Hello should or could have in its features to tap into this niche audience.
Hardik Patil, class IX, Vidya Valley School, Pune
TOI Students Are Excited About This New Kid On The Block. Are You?
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