Photos and everything is still stored on a remote uncontrolled server.
This and things like Pair, the social network for couples, I would suspect are shooting for high 'value' - where value is correlated with selling that information to third parties (advertisers, at best; but other parties are possible customers too).
edit - after reading their privacy policy, they do currently seem to have a good standing; even so I'd generally be cautious
Perhaps it would be better to stick to "privacy" as that's the value i see here.
the privacy policy states: ... affiliated organizations that (i) need to know that information in order to process it on FamilyLeaf’s behalf or to provide services available at FamilyLeaf’s websites, and (ii) that have agreed not to disclose it to others.
Looks cool! I'm hopeful they will be around awhile.
One interesting question is backups. Encrypted snapshots to S3, maybe?
I have test installed a diaspora pod as well as a libertree tree. Diaspora has its well documented issues and libertree is still bleeding edge.
I think ultimately, the emphasis on the private nature of all of these social networks has one single limitation issue: the building of network requires few people taking initiative of building the network (which you have identified as "family administrator"). Without such people taking initiative, these networks don't really go anywhere. And we know that not everyone takes those initiatives, especially when the site is brand new, unknown and/or not so popular.
Just some thoughts.
Per your second point, we're extremely grateful to our early adopters who've taken the initiative to try us out with their family. We're constantly working to improve the product from feedback like yours, and trying to lower the barrier so those network builders do take the initiative. Would love to chat if you have any suggestions or concerns about the product!
I'm also not really in the target demographic, but if someone asked me why they should choose to use this service instead of Facebook, I'd be hard pressed to give them a reason.
Facebook is not for intimate conversation with your family. Path is mobile-first and isn't as big of a thing (yet). Google+ allows you define circles but is rather complicated. As with other spaces where network effects are important, only the biggest will survive and the biggest currently (Path/Google+/others) do not address the family niche conclusively (product wise/platorm wise).
The real question is whether the family niche itself is an important enough one to a large enough base of people. It makes more sense to assume that this is the case...than not right? The upside here is pretty huge if there's something to it.
What really interests me is that amazing ad unit -- it's a "sponsored article from Bank of America". I actually read it, unlike a banner ad, and while if I were at all in the market for a family social network, I'd now be interested in FamilyLeaf, it ALSO made me somewhat more positive toward Bank of America.
This seems a whole lot more effective than running banner ads.
Many many many of these types of sites have launched and died. Dont let that deter you ! This Githubs first idea. One of these will work !
