Social media privacy is something that the majority of the platforms currently don’t take seriously.
Messaging and other social media activities can disclose some private information without a person realizing it. Protecting this private information needs people to be more aware of the possible privacy issues and for platforms to take better steps and measures.
In the midst of all this, there is a made-in-India application – Zlen that provides a social & messaging experience online which completely secure, private & exclusive. Zlen is a next-generation application that is a mashup of social media & private messenger, focusing on complete privacy & anonymity.
Zlen launched in September 2021 to give users the space to create their own private social space with their closest friends away from the current overcrowded platforms. Here, they can express, share & enjoy the social sharing experience without the fear of being judged or trolled along with the best private messaging interface and best privacy features.
“Privacy is not just a fad! As social media & messenger has become an integral part of our life, platform owners should not take users’ privacy and data for granted. At Zlen, a safe environment & privacy is the central piece around which everything revolves. As we lead this revolution in a new type of social media experience, we hope to create more fulfilling online spaces for people across the world.”
—Snehal R Gersappa (Founder & CEO)
There is a blurring of lines between your professional/public life and personal life online now. From your office people to the delivery person, everyone has access to you through your mobile. Even on social media, you can be found with one click. Zlen is more about keeping your space private. There is no discoverability on Zlen.
Unlike other social media platforms, no one can search for you on Zlen by using just your name, phone number, or email address. Each person who signs up on the app gets a unique ZlenCode. A person needs to know your unique ZlenCode to connect with you, enabling you to filter out all UNWANTED contacts & easy discoverability.
Zlen is filling the much-needed gap in the existing social media & messenger ecosystem. It is here to help create a space for people where they don’t have to worry about strangers on the internet but at the same time get to enjoy the experience of socializing with those, they trust the most. There is always a sense of obligation on social media; even if you have a private account, people will know that you use the particular app. More often than not, this will put you in a catch 22 situation if someone you know but don’t really want to connect with approaches you.
Why are users migrating to Zlen:
Some unique features which are unheard till now-
● An Entry Barrier – Zlen Code – This unique concept of having a Zlen Code allows users to filter out all unwanted contacts and persons entering or searching you online to connect with you. By this barrier, users have complete control over whom to connect or allow in their personal space.
● No discoverability – Cannot be searched on the app or even online. No one will ever come to know that you are on Zlen unless you reveal it. There is no obligation to accept unwanted friend requests or reply to chats/messages on your private messenger.
● Complete Anonymity – SOMEONE ON ZLEN – Say tomorrow you create a group on Zlen with two of your friends, but they are not connected on Zlen with each other.
On other apps, as you would know, you can directly see the number name and any other available details of the people who are part of a group. But on Zlen, the two friends will just see each other as Someone On Zlen. They can see each other’s messages in the group when they post, but they will not have access to each other’s profile or even know who they are unless they choose to mention it themselves.
Similarly, if you share a post and one of your friends likes or comments on it, other friends in the Zlen club not connected to that friend of yours can only see the comment or like, but instead of the profile name, it will again say Someone On Zlen
● There is no “last seen” or “online” concept on Zlen, unlike other apps. There are no chat back-ups, no location tracking on the app
● Fresh Start– If you want a fresh start on Zlen, you can remove your account, and all your data will be purged. Without changing your phone number, you can sign up again and get a brand new Zlen code and get going again.
Mr. Snehal Gersappa is a seasoned industry professional with more than 17 years of experience in Marketing, Sales & Business Development across Banking and Real Estate sectors in Dubai and Mumbai. He has worked with and led teams across prestigious brands such as The Bajaj Group.
In his 17-year stint, he has successfully executed projects worth more than 800 Cr. Driven by his entrepreneurial spirit, Snehal decided to take the leap and start work on Zlen, an app that gives the best of both social media & private messenger with a focus on privacy.
Along with Ashwin Datye, CTO 20+ years industry veteran in the IT space, together they have put a talented team, who have been working tirelessly to make the idea of Zlen a reality over the last two years.
Future plans of the company
The startup’s goal is to create a safe and secure space for users who are constantly bombarded with random connection requests, sponsored ads, trolls, and the list. It is a space where they can let their hair down, freely express their opinions, and enjoy moments with their own set of close people.
Zlen plans to create an exclusive space where users want to experience things other than the current overcrowded environment, which is creating mental fatigue amongst other adverse effects. They have already introduced a new feature called the Zlen World, wherein people can share their creations, with the freedom to do so anonymously or with their own name and control how others interact with it.
They want to foster a close-knit community of people having similar values. To the community, Zlen will have a chance to be part of exclusive experiences and access to unique offers through tie-ups with both leading & upcoming brands. Zlen is an exclusive community, and down the line, it will become a paid or only by invite app.
About Team members
A lean team of 8 is currently working tirelessly to make the vision a success. As they grow, Zlen expects more people to be a part of the team and take the app to the next level.