Is VERO the new Instagram?

Is Vero the new Instagram?

Instagram is no longer a platform for photography, confirmed by the company head, Adam Mosseri.?Instead focusing more on video content over that of stills, and beginning to feel more like TikTok than what it once was.?I accept that in order to survive you have to be able to adapt to the changing landscape, and as James Sinclair says, “innovate or evaporate”, but to what cost?

What is Vero?

Established in 2015 as an alternative to the likes of Instagram, the problem was?it was really similar to Instagram, which already existed and had capitalised the market.?

The description from the App Store describes this app as an ad-free, algorithm-free social.?From design to functionality, we’re redefining what a social network should be - delivering a better, truer social experience for everybody.

VERO is optimised for connection, not addiction, putting you in total control.

Sounds pretty neat, right.?But wait, it then says,

“Free for a limited time: join as a founding member now and your subscription is free for life.”

So does this mean that if I don’t jump on the band wagon I’m potentially going to have to pay a subscription to share my work??The cost of which is currently unknown. If this is the case, why would I do that when there are other means of me doing this, for free.?If VERO intend on charging it’s non-founding members then I’m going to want to see some form of ROI for my subscription.?If you just post photos for the pure enjoyment, then I fear VERO have immediately segregated this group of creators.?If you are making, or wanting to make money from your work, how much time will have to be dedicated to making this a possibility and at what point does this app become like all of the others?

Lets take a look at 5 reasons photographers are joining Vero, according to digital camera world.

1. No resolution or ratio restrictions.?This is pretty cool as with Instagram once you’ve decided which photo you want to share, you then have to decide what part of the photo is going to be cropped to fit with Instagrams restrictions.
2. No Algorithm. Vero has a chronological feed. What's more, you can filter the feed so that you only see the kind of content you want. Only want to see photos, or music, or links that people have shared, as Vero state, You’re in control.?This is a huge plus, gone will the days be that I am forced to see something I have zero interest in because somebody has paid the most to have it forced down my throat.
3. No ads. I’ve never found this an issue on Instagram, I just keep scrolling, and if they become too much I just close the app.
4. Links in Captions.?Gone are the days where you will have to write, Link in Bio.?Which is really only effective if you use it the once and never change the link, otherwise you run the risk of somebody seeing a previous post with the phrase, link in bio, only for this to have been updated and diverting them to something completely unrelated.?No the best impression I would suggest as people may think you’re trying to spam them.
5. Desktop App.?This again is a nice addition, giving you the choice of how you wish to compose and share your work.?It also serves as a cheeky disguise from people thinking you’re on your phone again instead of doing any work.

I’ve listed some YouTube videos in the description both for and against Vero so you can make your own mind up whether to switch.

Have you made the switch??Let me know if you have, or haven’t, and why.

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For

Peter McKinnon - https://youtu.be/AKgMOmzYDPk

Joshua Peg - https://youtu.be/OU_qYOHrEOc

Against

Jon Blea - https://youtu.be/N0Z6R2-NZX4

Studio Builder - https://youtu.be/I96nDfyURls

On-The-Fence

Easy Tiger Creative - https://youtu.be/8YWs3Lzhv04