Recently, Twitter has been criticised for contributing to the rise of misinformation and hate speech on the platform. This has led to users abandoning the platform or seeking out alternatives that are more welcoming and inclusive.
One company had the foresight to recognise the potential to attract users who are seeking an alternative to Twitter.
According to The Verge, Meta’s chief product officer, Chris Cox, revealed in a meeting that their upcoming response to Twitter will be a standalone app built upon Instagram’s foundation. This new app will incorporate the decentralised social media protocol, ActivityPub, enabling users to seamlessly transfer their accounts and followers to other ActivityPub-supported apps such as Mastodon (another Twitter competitor).
During the meeting, Cox referred to the app as “Project 92,” and it may be publicly known as Threads. Leveraging Instagram’s account system, the app will automatically populate user information. Cox took a direct jab at Elon Musk’s Twitter management, stating that creators and public figures have expressed a desire for a platform they can trust and rely on for distribution—a platform that is run in a sensible manner.
The primary objectives for this app, according to Cox, are safety, user-friendly experience, reliability, and providing creators with a stable environment to develop and expand their audiences. Notably, Meta has already secured commitments from notable figures like DJ Slime and is engaged in discussions with other prominent individuals, including Oprah and the Dalai Lama.
Cox added that coding for the app commenced in January, and Meta aims to release it at the earliest possible opportunity.
