Secret is Back as IO
In the wake of the astonishing results of 2016 U.S. presidential election, David Byttow, co-founder of anonymous sharing app Secret, vowed that the formerly defunct app would return. He tweeted his solemn vow five days after Donald Trump was elected.
Secret V2 is coming. It's too important for it to not exist.— David Byttow (@davidbyttow) 13 November 2016
The revival, IO, was launched on Thursday morning, and it looks nothing like Secret. Actually, it bears a striking resemblance to a blank page (see above). Unlike Secret which functioned as a social network without profiles, IO operates more or less as a blogging platform. The project was undertaken by a team supervised by Byttow who also shouldered all finanacial funding. Byttow's project was entrusted to a team rather than taken on by himself because of the founder's other time investment, namely Bold. A startup launched by Byttow as a content creation service for enterprises, Bold provides the trunk URL for IO.
Initially, as many new projects do, IO went to Product Hunt to be reviewed and rated by the community. By and large, the comments are positive, responding well to the uncluttered layout and simple operation.
To use IO, just start typing. You can add a Twitter account and a name if desired; however, those can be left out to establish an anonymous post. Once finished, hitting publish will leave you with a shareable link. Editing options include, for the moment, markdown, export, images, hyperlinks, even a couple handy writer's tools. Hemingway is a tool to help with writing: "The Hemingway assistant helps you write like Ernest Hemingway himself by highlighting unnecessary adverbs and the use of passive voice or overly complex words. In short, it helps you keep your posts simple and direct." Ambient sounds are available on-site at the touch of a button, featuring sounds like a cafe in Paris, a relaxing storm, a beach bonfire, an enchanted forest, Hogwarts Library (that alone may convert me to IO), and Castle Black.
Unfortunately for the team responsible for IO's creation, this same concept was just recently launched by encrypted messaging service Telegram in the form of Telegraph. Telegraph isn't quite as finished a product as IO, but it bears an eerily similar format. Someone may want to look into that.
Jacqui Litvan, wielding a bachelor's degree in English, strives to create a world of fantasy amidst the ever-changing landscape of military life. Attempting to become a writer, she fuels herself with coffee (working as a barista) and music (spending free time as a raver). Follow her @Songbird_Jacqui
Contact us on Twitter, on Facebook, or leave your comments below. To find out about social media training or management why not take a look at our website for more info: TheSMFGroup.com
Secret is Back as IO
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Rating:
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Rating:
Unknown
Keeping you up to date on social media, digital marketing, apps, news & reviews. Social media, and digital marketing as a whole, are rapidly and constantly changing, adapting to new developments at an ever increasing rate. Just keeping up to date can be a nightmare. Our team of writers know their field, and keep an ear to the ground. We aim to keep you informed of all recent developments in the online world, and teach you a little something along the way. So whether you just want to stay connected, or gain some knowledge for yourself, the Social Songbird will keep on singing! More articles are posted every day so keep checking back! Join the discussion on Twitter - #SocialSongbird Or contact us directly - @SocialSongbird_
Entrepreneur, international speaker on Social Media Marketing. First one in the UK to write and speak in conferences about Twitter as a marketing tool. Consultant to Corporate Companies, Government Organizations, Marketing Managers and Business Owners.
Aspiring novelist with a passion for fantasy and crime thrillers. He hopes to one day drop that 'aspiring' prefix. He started as a writer and soon after he was made Executive Editor and Manager of the team at Social Songbird. A position he held for 5 years.
Adrienne is a passionate writer with experience in editing, content creation, and social media marketing. She’s a lover of animals, helping others improve their writing, and 2000s pop culture.
Musician, audio technician, professional tutor and a Cambridge university English student. Interested in writing, politics and obsessed with reading.
Recently graduated with a BA in English Literature from the University of Exeter, and he is about to study an MA in Journalism at the University of Sheffield. He is an aspiring journalist and novelist; in his free time he enjoys playing chess, listening to music and taking long walks through nature.
Lucy is an undergraduate BSc Politics and International Relations student at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Anna Coopey is a 4th year UG student in Classics at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. She is a keen writer and researcher on a number of topics, varying from Modern Greek literature to revolutionary theory.
Ellie is a recent BA English Literature graduate and aspiring publisher with a passion for writing. Her favourite pastimes include reading and shopping.