Meta is working on a standalone, text-based social network app that will rival both Twitter and its decentralized competitor, Mastodon. According to the company; “We’re exploring a standalone decentralized 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.”
P92 – The Codename to Twitter Rival
According to international media, the app is codenamed ‘P92’, allowing users to log in through their existing Instagram credentials. The reports also suggest that the platform would be decentralized, which means that users could ostensibly create different servers or communities, each with their own rules rather than one central platform controlled by Meta.
The project is in its early stages and is being led by Instagram head Adam Mosseri. Meta has started investing in a Twitter rival app at a time when the blogging platform is itself suffering from a huge setback in terms of advertisers. Meta is also struggling to attract the attention of a younger audience, while its huge investments in the metaverse, are also not paying off. Thomas Hayes, chairman and managing member of New York-based Great Hill Capital, said; “The history of Meta is that they are much better acquirers than they are innovators or developers … as far as copying Twitter, this is just a defensive move.”
Elon Musk’s Response
The CEO of Twitter, Elon Musk, has mocked Meta for planning to launch a dedicated Twitter-like social media application and called it “copycat” in response to a tweet about Meta’s possible move. One user said: “I’m sure people will by dying to join another Meta platform plagued with ‘independent fact checkers’ suppressing conversations and content moderators taking down memes. Sounds fun!” Another commented: “Facebook should start making rockets and electric cars as well since they so ‘good’ at what they do.”
Also read: Meta Tests Paid Verification Subscription Service for Creators to Mark their Presence
