In a bid to enter the microblogging arena, Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, is gearing up to launch its own text-based app this summer. This move comes at a time when the future of Twitter remains uncertain. An email, viewed by TechCrunch, reveals that the app will be partially integrated within Instagram, allowing users to retain their verification and handle, while notifying their followers to join them on the new platform.
Meta’s text-based app aims to be decentralized and interoperable with Mastodon, leveraging the ActivityPub protocol. The company intends to attract high-profile public figures such as athletes, actors, producers, showrunners, and comedians to gain early access to the platform. Although Meta acknowledges that competitors like Mastodon and Bluesky have a head start in the race to build the next Twitter, the company believes its advantage lies in its access to billions of users through its family of apps, including Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Messenger.
Dubbed P92 or Barcelona, the decentralized app will resemble Twitter in terms of its appearance, according to leaked examples. While it is impossible to predict audience response, it has the potential to offer an alternative to Twitter. The app is expected to utilize Instagram’s community guidelines and safety features, enabling users to log in with their Instagram credentials. Moreover, key features like two-factor authentication, spam reporting, and the ability to block and hide words from Instagram will carry over to the new platform.
Lia Haberman, author of the social media newsletter ICYMI, shared insights on the app, stating that text posts will be limited to 500 characters, and users will be able to upload photos, links, and videos up to five minutes long. The app will feature a feed where users can engage with content through likes, replies, and reposts. Social media consultant Matt Navarra also confirmed these details, emphasizing that the new app will function as a standalone platform while being integrated with Instagram.
Although Meta declined to comment further on the leaked information, the market appears ready for alternatives to Twitter. However, users might feel fatigued by the prospect of creating yet another account on a new platform, especially after migrating to various other social media platforms. Meta has a history of launching and discontinuing apps, with products like tbh, Super, Neighborhoods, Tuned, Campus, and Sparked being discontinued in recent years.
As summer approaches, the launch of Meta’s text-based app holds the potential to reshape the microblogging landscape, offering users a new platform with the backing of Meta’s expansive user base and integration with Instagram.
