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Ad-free social network Ello says hello to videos and music — with ads

Image Credit: Jordan Novet/VentureBeat

Ello’s having a big day: It added sound and video support. Bring on the video and music embeds — and possibly ads, according to an email sent to users today.

Ello, the venture capital-funded startup that wants to be an alternative to the advertising-laden Facebook, seems to have allowed a loophole into its ad-free zone, as many of these third-party providers can bring ads with their content.

In its email, however, Ello maintains that its users still won’t have to put up with ads. “Ello will never sell ads. Hide posts that may contain 3rd party ads from your settings page,” it says, showing users the settings button in question.

Ello email -- video and music


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Ello will now support content from YouTube, Vimeo, DailyMotion, SoundCloud, and Mixcloud.

The alternative social network also recently revealed that it plans on releasing mobile apps in 2015, though it hasn’t determined an exact timing yet.

Colorado-based Ello got a lot of attention this past fall, and raised $5.5 million from institutional investors.