Facebook Anonymous: tip says privacy may be their next goal

No matter how often Facebook suggests they're all about privacy, there's one undeniable fact about the social network. You pay. Whether it be by cash (not in Facebook's case) or with your presence, you pay. That's how Facebook stays in business. They sell advertisement space to businesses for you to see. They recently released an initiative called Facebook Atlas. A tip this week suggests that they may change their traditional model completely, releasing an app that turns the real-name conventions of Facebook on its head.

Don't freak out. Facebook isn't going away. Any initiative like the one we're hearing about from sources speaking with The New York Times will take place alongside Facebook. It'll be separate. You'll still have the social networking you know and love – there's no reason why Facebook would change that.

What these anonymous sources suggest is that there'll be a stand-alone app for mobile devices. This app will allow users to interact anonymously – not unlike Secret, for example. Unlike Secret, on the other hand, Facebook's initiative will be experimental, and based on the original Facebook to some degree.

It's been suggested that this project will be (is being) led by Facebook Product Manager Josh Miller. He joined Facebook when his start-up company "Branch" was acquired by Facebook back in January of 2014.

Unlike some acquisitions made by large companies over the past several years, Branch remains in full, original service. Branch is a service which allows you to capture links or ideas and discuss with friends or associates online, publishing a "Branch" anywhere you like.

The team that developed Branch also released an app called Potluck. This is a very similar social network-like service which allows you to share links as cards. The focus, they say, is on the content, rather than the sharer.

Now we wait. It's suggested that Facebook will release whatever service they have planned within the next few weeks in app form. That generally means Facebook will release the app to iOS devices first, then eventually to Android.