Meta, the owner of Facebook, is reportedly planning to develop a new social network to rival Twitter, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to the BBC. The proposed platform would be primarily text-based and may allow users to follow the same accounts they already follow on Meta's image-sharing app, Instagram. It could also offer the option to import followers from decentralized platforms like Mastodon. A spokesperson from Meta confirmed that the company is indeed working on a decentralized social network for sharing text updates, aimed at providing a separate space for creators and public figures to share timely information related to their interests. Meta's chief product officer, Chris Cox, revealed that coding for the platform is already in progress, with the company aiming for a release in the near future, potentially by the end of June. Leaked screenshots of the internal presentation have surfaced online, providing a glimpse into the app's possible layout, which appears to be reminiscent of Twitter's interface. This new text-based network, codenamed P92, could pose a significant challenge to Elon Musk's Twitter, potentially surpassing it in size due to Meta's massive Instagram user base of around two billion users, compared to Twitter's estimated 300 million users. While alternative platforms like BlueSky and Mastodon have attracted users disillusioned with Twitter, building a new community from scratch is challenging. However, Meta's established Instagram user base provides a substantial advantage in terms of potential user adoption. Meta has previously drawn inspiration from other successful products, such as Snapchat and TikTok, in the development of features like Facebook Stories and Instagram Reels. Twitter has faced criticism for its moderation practices, leading to its withdrawal from the EU's voluntary disinformation code in May. Critics claim that moderation efforts have been reduced under Elon Musk's leadership, resulting in an increase in the spread of misinformation. Musk, on the other hand, contends that there is now less misinformation on Twitter since he assumed control in October 2022.
Subscribe by Email
Follow Updates Articles from This Blog via Email
No Comments