The lack of privacy on Facebook and other social media websites is being tackled by a new app that will allow users to engage in social events without being monitored by unwanted viewers.
Capsule was launched this January as an event planning and sharing app to organize social events and interactions. The new app provides users with a way to invite specific friends to an event without having it publicly displayed on Facebook or other social media sites.
Saul Artiga , community manager of Capsule, said the co-founders, Omri Cohen and Cyrus Farudi , originally thought of the idea from having to manage their busy schedules of attending many events during one year.
“Cyrus and Omri , both serial entrepreneurs and college graduates, built the app because they were unsatisfied with the available apps for group/event planning,” Artiga said.
Capsule users are only required to use a phone number and email address to interact with Capsule groups. Other personal information remains anonymous.
“Capsules” or events are then created for everything from planning events and real-time image sharing to virtual business meetings and private photo albums.
Privacy is one of the main features that make Capsule unique. Users are able to invite specific friends without having privacy issues of others seeing personal conversations about events or viewing private photos.
”Capsule works great for students with group projects or for students who want to party hard and share photos online, but not on a social network that is as public as Facebook. Capsules are private and only those invited can access the contents within,” Artiga said.
CapsuleCam is another feature users can use on the app. This particular feature gives users the ability to capture live moments of an event in real time and publish them to their personal Capsules. Cohen, said CapsuleCam helps capture and document the event.
“When you wake up the morning after, you will be able to see all the photos. They are already there. You can even see everything from different locations,” Cohen said.
Capsules can be shared on other social networking sites if users want to share their private experiences, but privacy will remain as a significant factor for the app. Connecting to Capsule doesn’t require users to have a Facebook or Twitter account, and all the information shared on Capsule is restricted to only Capsule users.
“What happens in Capsule stays in Capsule,” Cohen said.
Facebook privacy concerns have created a market for apps like Capsule. However, some students have differing views on the need for these types of apps.
“I don’t see the point of it. If you’re trying to go into the professional field, just keep your personal business off the Internet,” Jessica Evans-el, junior in art and design, said. “You shouldn’t put it on there if you don’t want others to view your information. It’s an individual responsibility.”
If the need for privacy isn’t enough motivation for using Capsule, other features that are available on the app may be of value.
Farudi said certain student groups, publications or Greek groups can find it helpful to create Capsules for important events.
Capsule is now available online and for smartphone users.
