Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is reportedly developing a text-based social network to rival Twitter, according to sources familiar with the matter. The platform is expected to allow users to follow accounts they already follow on Instagram, Meta’s image-sharing app, and potentially bring over followers from decentralized platforms like Mastodon. A Meta spokesperson confirmed to BBC that the development of the platform, stating that “We’re exploring a standalone decentralised social network for sharing text updates.”
“We believe there’s an opportunity for a separate space where creators and public figures can share timely updates about their interests,” added the spokesperson.
Leaked screenshots of the platform have surfaced online, which employees claim are genuine. The layout of the new network, tentatively named P92, bears resemblance to Twitter. With Meta’s massive Instagram community of around two billion users, significantly larger than Twitter’s estimated 300 million users, the text-based network could potentially pose a greater challenge to Twitter, surpassing it in size if a significant percentage of Instagram users transition to the new platform.
Meta acknowledges drawing inspiration from other products, although critics view it as borrowing features. Twitter has faced criticism for moderation issues, with concerns over disinformation and its withdrawal from the EU’s voluntary disinformation code. Since Musk’s takeover of Twitter, moderation efforts have reportedly been reduced, leading to increased spread of disinformation, although Musk claims that misinformation has decreased under his leadership.
