Meta’s plans to create a Twitter ‘rival’ – 6/9/2023 – Market

Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has presented employees with a plan to launch a social network that should compete with Twitter, according to sources heard by the BBC.

The app, tentatively named P92, is expected to allow new users to follow accounts they already follow on Instagram.

And it could allow users to import their followers from decentralized platforms such as the Mastodon social network, which is also text-based like Twitter.

In a decentralized platform, the network connecting users is not controlled by a single company.

A Meta spokesperson confirmed to the BBC that the platform is in development.

“We are exploring an autonomous decentralized social network to share text updates,” he said.

“We believe there is an opportunity for a separate space where creators and public figures can share timely updates about their interests.”

Meta Product Director Chris Cox said programming for the system is ongoing.

The tech giant intends to launch it soon, although no date has been given. There is speculation that the network could debut as early as the end of June.

Screenshots presented internally to employees to give an idea of ​​how the application will work appeared on the internet.

Sources within the company have told the BBC that these leaked screenshots are legitimate. If they are, the layout of this new platform will be very familiar to anyone who has spent any time on Twitter. See below:

The platform aims to become a bigger rival to Elon Musk’s Twitter than other sites like BlueSky or Mastodon itself.

While both attracted disillusioned Twitter users after their sale to the mega-entrepreneur, it’s hard to start over on a new social network and rebuild a community.

But the Instagram community is huge. Meta says it has about 2 billion users, which dwarfs the estimated 300 million who use Twitter — although their numbers can no longer be verified.

If even 25% of Instagram users are convinced to use the P92 (which should have a catchier name when it launches; there’s talk of Threads), it will instantly become bigger than its older rival.

Meta says it takes “inspires” from other products, though others say so less subtly — Stories on Facebook was based on a Snapchat feature, and Reels on Instagram is arguably similar to TikTok.

Twitter has come under fire in recent months over moderation issues on the platform. In May, it stopped following the European Union’s (EU) voluntary disinformation code.

Under Musk, Twitter’s moderation would have been reduced – which experts point to as responsible for an increase in the spread of misinformation.

But Musk says there’s now been “less misinformation rather than more” since he took over the company in October 2022.