MeWe app explored: Is it really safe & anonymous

Social media is like having a double-edged sword. It binds us but invades our privacy at just about every turn. However the MeWe app really changed this atmosphere. This “anti-algorithm” app comes with the idea of guaranteeing that your posts and shares will not be distributed without your consent and there will be no advertisements. But does it really deliver? And more importantly, is it safe to you and to your family? Here is more of how the MeWe app looks and whether it is the safe haven everyone talks about or just an illusion.

What is the MeWe app?

In some ways, MeWe was founded in the year 2016 by Mark Weinstein. This application emphasizes privacy rights more than any other. It is time to forget about algorithms that decide what we should see, or the advertisements that certainly know us better than our closest ones.

What makes MeWe unique?

Its core features, including:

• Ad-free experience: Your feed isn’t a billboard. No pop-up ads from companies who want to sell socks to you because you searched for sneakers.
• Private chats: All messages are encrypted and can be seen only by the people with whom the user of the application is communicating.
• Content control: Define what you need to share, and to who you need to share with. No default public profiles.
• Groups and pages: Even the most outdated people can find their interests without worrying about censorship issues.

MeWe also calls itself an “anti-algorithm” application. This means that posts are arranged chronologically. So, there is no algorithm to inform you about what you need to know next.

This sounds like paradise, but skeptics wonder about its claims. A more focused question might be how any social media platform can possibly meet these high expectations?

What is MeWe app used for?

MeWe’s primary purpose is simple: a way that can unite people but not interfere with their privacy. It was created for people who are frustrated with the intrusive activity of welded ordinary social networks. But it’s not only about privacy – it’s about the connection as well – with the option to control it at any given moment.

Here’s what people typically use MeWe for:

• Private social networking: Reject that Facebook’s algorithms dictate what users see or write on and what they do not see or post.
• Group interactions: Whether you’re as passionate about fitness or reading as we are about MeWe, you can create or participate in interest groups.
• Professional networking: They use it for community construction for small businesses and independent creators with no distractions.
• Messaging: Private messaging to talk secretly, with any user you want, in an end to end encrypted conversation.
• Media sharing: Communicate with message and file sharing, network video and photo sharing.

You can get pretty creative on this platform if you wish to be a part of a close-knitted community on MeWe. Your eyes won’t be bombarded with short clips that will keep you hooked on the platform.

Instead, it is designed to be more productive for people sharing a common hobby or an interest.

Is MeWe free to use?

The platform stresses the fees for the service it offers, especially concerning the cost. Contrary to other services which seek to entice users with a number of features only to integrate the majority of them behind a paywall, it is very clear on which feature is free and which is premium on MeWe.

The app’s free version offers:

• Field; Name; Phone; Email; Answers and questions; My profile; Appearance.
• To join groups and pages and to communicate in private chats.
• Few spaces to store photos and videos on cloud.

However, MeWe also has additional features if people want to pay for them. These include:

• MeWepremium ($4.99/month): Unlock more emojis, calls and even video calls and even more goodies here.
• Cloud storage upgrades: 8GB is available for use in the free edition but is extendable.
• Business tools: Excellent for the working class to network safely.

The good news? Just from that, one will be well prepared to embrace the free version which is way beyond what most occasional users would require. But of course, if you plan to have it for official purposes or use it pretty often, the premium features may save the day.

It also makes more sense compared with the mainstream ones which get paid from the user data materials. You can use the basic version which comes with limited features or pay for additional options – completely on you.

Does the MeWe app have parental controls?

Sadly, with regard to curation, MeWe leaves much to be desired. There are no native parental controls in the app, which puts the app at the centre of worried parents’ concerns.

Here’s what MeWe lacks:

• It lacks any way to be able to monitor your child’s messages or the group interactions.
• In truth, one major disadvantage of these sites is that they allow none of the filters to be put in place that would prevent the posting of indecent material.
• There are no alerts for suspicious behaviour.

Such issues means that it becomes rather difficult for the parents to protect their teens to safely operate the platform. Considering MeWes ethos of safeguarding user data this shouldn’t come as a complete shock but it is rather concerning all the same.

So, what’s the solution? Enter FlashGet Kids. This third-party app enables parents to monitor their child’s activities on the internet without being intrusive. It’s like having a virtual babysitter that monitors kids so as to maintain their safety while they are in cyberspace engaging in social media sites such as MeWe.

Regardless of the fact that MeWe is built from the ground up with privacy in mind, it has no filters for parents as a disadvantage. For now, it is recommended that you refer to tools like FlashGet Kids whenever your kids are using the app.

Is MeWe app safe?

Altogether, compared to other social networks, MeWe is much safer, but even it has its drawbacks. It is as the saying goes ‘beauty is relative’ or to put it as ‘Safety depends on the user’s preferences’.

Here’s what makes MeWe relatively safe:

• Encryption: Once the two individuals are messaging privately, it is encrypted end to end so that there should be no third parties listening in.
• No data tracking: MeWe does not share your and your friends’ data with advertisers like most social media platforms do.
• User control: You decide who can view your post and your contacts list.
• But they are not without their shortcomings and among them we have MeWe. Here are potential risks:
• Limited content moderation: Such platforms as MeWe promote freedom of speech, although this might sometimes explode into expression of content or undesirable conducts.
• Fake profiles: As with any social media platform, there are always fake profiles, and fake messages from scammers or bots.
• Security vulnerabilities: However, as we have seen, no platform is crime-proof, and, while extremely rare, every platform can be hacked.

Still, using MeWe as a platform is much safer when considering the privacy of users, but that does not mean that you should not be careful with the data that you provide there. Use such passwords, do not disclose tender information and inform higher authorities about such strange activities.

Is MeWe anonymous?

Yet, for all the emphasis on enhancing users’ privacy, MeWe is actually closer to being totally anonymous than people might think.

Here’s the good news:

• MeWe is not interested in your genuine name or even your personal information.
• People that are being profiled can decide what they want to be profiled and what they do not want to be profiled.
• User engagement metrics are not monitored for ad placements or any algorithm related work on the public facing frontend.
• Now, the not-so-good news:
• You still require an email address for sign in purposes, and some of the actions performed may be stored for various purposes of functionality.
• Every interaction — any group or message you’re a part of — potentially exposes you to other users.

In general, while comparing MeWe to Facebook, the former is much more private. Nonetheless, it is quite unfair to describe it as entirely anonymous. Overall, you can say that MeWe cares about your privacy more than most – but experimenting with true anonymity means staying off the grid entirely.

Why do people use the MeWe app?

MeWe is not just a social media platform which focuses on privacy; it is to take back ownership. To the users who are frankly sick of algorithms and being fed ads non-stop, MeWe is what they need.

Here’s why people flock to MeWe:

• Privacy-first philosophy: They do not collect your data and do not make money on your activity.
• Freedom of speech: People can share their ideas without any type of restriction.
• Customizable groups: Whether it is a specific interest or a business group, MeWe has something for everybody.
• Ad-free experience: They are not taken up by annoying, focused ads.
• Chronological posts: Off the cuff, no tweaking of an algorithm in sight.

But, for many users, MeWe has the vibe of a social media platform created as a counterpoint to Big Tech. It’s not ideal by any stretch, but it’s something that can be made use of by those focused on privacy and security of their contacts.

Should teens download and use the MeWe app?

Teenagers are simply nomads in cyberspace, who constantly seek new sites. But should they invest in MeWe? It depends.

Pros for teens:

• Of course, there are no ads in general, none of the targeted ones, and no invasive tracking of the user.
• Leisure interests and activities are well protected by the regulations of groups.
• It guarantees privacy in the community by encrypting conversations.

Cons for teens:

• Lack of ways to regulate interaction between kids.
• The primary risks are that users will be exposed to potentially sensitive and even obscene materials or material that is not moderated.
• There is always anxiety that the other party is a fake persona created by someone with bad intentions for practicing phishing scams among others.

Parents can find utilizing top-end tools such as FlashGet Kids as good options to meet the gap of a reliable parental control feature within MeWe. It is possible to use this app to enable the tracking of teenage behavior on the internet without involving intrusiveness. Moreover, it is free to install and takes less than 5 minutes to set up on your child’s phone.

In a nutshell, MeWe can be safe for teens if appropriate direction is provided to them. However, the app’s singular emphasis on privacy could easily make parents anxious.

Final thoughts

The MeWe app is like a cute little diner for privacy lovers. In particular it is for those who do not want Facebook or any other platform to control their lives. Hence, MeWe looks like a safe shelter. It’s a blessing for privacy lovers.

However, for parents, this anonymity brings a ton of anxiety. Like it is hard enough for people to keep track of their kids’ online activities without platforms like MeWe. So, the lack of parental controls on it makes things tougher for people. Luckily, FlashGet Kids parental controls save the day with their robust features. This app will ensure your child is protected no matter what social media platform they’re using.
What’s more, is MeWe as safe and anonymous as the company claims it to be? Mostly, yes. But it is for you to decide whether “mostly” will satisfy your needs.