Meta, the company that owns Facebook, is reportedly planning to develop a new text-based social network to rival Twitter, according to sources cited by the BBC. The platform could allow

users to follow accounts they already follow on Instagram, Meta's popular image-sharing app, and potentially bring over followers from decentralized platforms like Mastodon. A spokesperson for Meta confirmed the development of the platform, stating that they are exploring a standalone decentralized social network for sharing text updates. Meta's chief product officer, Chris Cox, mentioned that coding is underway, and the company aims to release the platform soon, with speculation suggesting a possible launch by the end of June.

Leaked screenshots of the new platform, known by its working title P92, have surfaced online and are believed to be genuine, providing a glimpse of what the app's interface might look like. If the leaked screenshots are accurate, the layout of the new platform will bear similarities to Twitter. This text-based network has the potential to be a significant competitor to Elon Musk's Twitter, surpassing the influence of alternative platforms such as BlueSky and Mastodon. Leveraging the massive Instagram community, which boasts around two billion users according to Meta, could give the new platform an advantage, overshadowing Twitter's estimated 300 million user base (although Twitter's figures are no longer verifiable).

The success of a new social network largely depends on the ability to attract and rebuild a community. However, if even a fraction of Instagram's user base can be enticed to use the new platform, it would instantly surpass Twitter in size. Meta has a track record of drawing inspiration from other products, such as incorporating Snapchat features into Facebook Stories and introducing TikTok-like functionality in Instagram's Reels. Twitter has faced scrutiny in recent months regarding moderation issues, and in May, it withdrew from the EU's voluntary disinformation code. Under Elon Musk's leadership, Twitter's moderation reportedly decreased, leading to concerns about the spread of misinformation. However, Musk contends that there is now less misinformation on the platform since he assumed control in October 2022. Photo by Minette Lontsie, Wikimedia commons.