Facebook and Instagram may be adding a new member to the Meta family. In a move that will challenge Twitter and Mastodon, Facebook announced they are developing a text-based social network app, according to Platformer.
A Meta spokesperson stated, ” 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.”
By developing a Twitter-like app, Meta would benefit from the current chaos at the Elon Musk-led company.
Since Mr Musk took over Twitter late last year, the platform has struggled to retain its advertising base.
The move by Twitter to restore suspended accounts and introduce paid account verification resulted in scammers impersonating companies, resulting in companies withdrawing their spending.
The Meta app will use a framework similar to Mastodon, a Twitter-like service launched in 2016.
The new app, apparently codenamed P92, will allow users to log in using their existing Instagram accounts.
The news feels like Meta’s next logical step in some ways. In just the past year, Instagram introduced a text-only Notes feature, sparking speculation that Meta may be looking into creating its own Twitter-like app.
The most surprising aspect of this new app is its decentralised nature. Meta has traditionally maintained a tight grip on all aspects of its platforms. Users could create their own Reddit-style servers or communities with their own rules using a decentralised app. Third-party developers could theoretically build new tools or features for the app.
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