We’ve covered the Facebook data leaks and privacy scandals ad nauseam but we’re all still using Facebook. While people are most-likely concerned about Facebook’s handling of private data, most are unwilling to change platforms. Maybe that’s because of the lack of alternatives. Now, one Minnesota entrepreneur is offering an alternative up.

Jeff Meyer and his relatives have launched The Horn, a new private social network that isn’t going to track and use your data. Social media sites have become an important part of society these days. They are where people gather to keep in touch even when they are far apart. They’re a place for debate and discussion and the sharing of ideas. But somewhere along the line users sold themselves out to the companies providing social media services.

While The Horn isn’t the first alternative to Facebook, check MeWe, Minds, and Mastodon (to name a few), it is sort of a different take. The Horn is a paid social network which gives you an ad-free experience and keeps your privacy, private.

“We don’t know how many people are dissatisfied with Facebook,” said James Touchi-Peters, a software programmer, former conductor of the Minnesota Philharmonic, and member of Meyer’s investor group who has spent nearly a year working on TheHorn.net. “About 1 percent of Facebook membership is 28 million people. We only need about 100,000 to make the Horn work.” “The Horn is walled off from the public internet,” said Meyer. “You make your connections directly. We’ve turned off the analytics. We don’t need the ‘network effect.’ ” StarTribune

This new social media site would cost you US$3.99 a month, or US$30 annually. This gives you the following features:

Ad-free

Privacy controls

File sharing and storage

Unedited personal streams

Private and hidden groups

Real-time private messaging

Easy to cancel option

The Horn also does not allow children on the platform, so that might deter many folks from signing up. This is also a private network, meaning your posts will not be public facing. While this sort of social media site isn’t for everyone, it will probably appeal to some. It’s an interesting concept and it will be interesting to see if The Horn takes off.

Check out The Horn’s website for more information including how to sign up as well as FAQ’s and a full list of features.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter, or Facebook. You can also comment on our MeWe page by joining the MeWe social network.