1. History

2. Concept and funding

3. Controversies
     Privacy    Russian involvement    Criticism of the app’s founder  

4. References

History

The app was founded by Lebanese billionaire Ayman Hariri who is the son of former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri.^[3] The name is taken from the Esperanto word for truth.^[2] The app launched officially in 2015 as an alternative to Facebook and their popular photo-blogging app Instagram.^[1] Within weeks of its release the app surged in popularity although users expressed mixed reports with some feeling confused about how the app worked.^[3][4]

In March 2018 Vero’s popularity surged, partly helped by an exodus from Facebook and Instagram following the Cambridge Analytica data scandal. In the wake of the scandal, Vero devised an advertising campaign aimed at defected Facebook and Instagram users, hoping the app’s policies and privacy settings would assuage concerns over sharing personal information on the internet.^[4] Within the space of one week, the app went from being a small service, akin to Ello or Peach, to being the most downloaded app in eighteen countries.^[6]

Concept and funding

Vero’s content feed resembles Instagram’s although users can share a wider variety of content and the app has a chronological content feed whereas Facebook and Instagram’s feeds are algorithm- based. Vero’s business plan is also distinct from similar social media apps. Whereas its competitors such as Facebook or Instagram make money from in-app advertising revenue and the sale of user data,; Vero’s business plan was to invite the first one million users to use the app for free then charge any subsequent users a subscription fee.^[7]  

the app was entirely funded by its founder and generated additional revenues by charging affiliate fees when someone buys a product they find on Vero.^{[7] [8]}

Controversies

Privacy

Vero has faced some criticism over the wording of their manifesto, in particular;

“Vero only collects the data we believe is necessary to provide users with a great experience and to ensure the security of their accounts.” – Vero Manifesto. 

Because this policy does not implicitly state that the app will not sell data on to third parties some users fear that the need to monetise the app through data might prove too tempting.^[9] There have also been concerns over Vero’s broad terms of service which grant Vero rights over how it uses its user’s content.

Users have also complained about not being able to delete their accounts.^{[7] [9]}

Russian involvement

Although Vero remains transparent about the app’s Russian development team, they have been caught up in concerns about Russian interference on social media platforms. The app’s founder Ayman Hariri was quick to dismiss the remarks as xenophobic and defend the nationality of his employees, stating in an interview with Time Magazine; “At the end of the day, where people are from is really not how anybody should judge anyone,”^[7]

Criticism of the app’s founder

Until 2013, Vero’s founder Ayman Harari was deputy CEO and chairman of Saudi Oger, the Saudi Arabian construction company which collapsed in 2017, mired by controversies over the welfare and treatment of their employees.^[7] However, Harari is quick to point out that he divested from the firm in 2014 and the worker’s rights violations occurred after he had left the company.^{[8] [3]}

References

• Mount Lawrence Grassi
• Mount Lawson
• Mount Laylun
• Mount Layton hotsprings
• Mount Leahi
• Mount-Lebanon
• Mount Lebanon Chapel and Cemetery
• Mount Lebanon Ice Center
• Mount Lebanon Methodist Episcopal Church
• Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate
• Mount Lebanon (PAT station)
• Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania
• Mount Lebanon Range
• Mount Lebanon School District
• Mount Lebanon Shaker Village
• Mount Lebanon Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
• Mount Lebanon Tunnel
• Mount Leckie
• Mount Le Conte (disambiguation)
• Mount Ledang
• Mount Leech
• Mount Leek
• Mount Lehman, British Columbia
• Mount Leland
• Mount Leman