San Francisco: Twitter's new CEO Linda Yaccarino addressed the rumours that Instagram is working on a text-based app that is something like Twitter. She responded to a tweet by TechCrunch on the matter and wrote, "game on".
TechCrunch shared the link to an article about the Twitter clone and wrote, "Everything we know about Instagram's Twitter clone, due this summer."
The article said that the future is uncertain for Twitter and Meta is throwing its hat into the ring to build the next major microblogging platform. "This text-based app will stand alone, but it will be partially integrated within Instagram. Users will keep their Instagram verification and handle, and all of their followers will receive a notification to follow them on the to-be-named platform. Meta’s text-based platform will be decentralised and interoperable with Mastodon, which is built on the ActivityPub protocol."
"Meta wants to onboard high-profile public figures to get early access, like athletes, actors, producers, showrunners, and comedians. In its note to these creators, Meta conceded that Mastodon, Bluesky, and other apps have had a head start in the race to build the next Twitter. But the company pointed out that it has the advantage of access to billions of users through its family of apps, which includes Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Messenger," reported the outlet.
Meta has been reportedly testing a beta version.
"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," Meta told MoneyControl.
According to Lia Haberman, author of the social media newsletter ICYMI, the Twitter clone will have the same community guidelines as Instagram. "The app will have creator controls and account safety features. For example, accounts you have blocked on IG will carry over. Hidden words you have selected on IG also will carry over."
"Based on a somewhat blurry example I got, Meta's new app looks a lot like Twitter. So, could this take over all the Twitter screenshots we have been seeing on the feed lately? Maybe. It is impossible to predict how audiences will respond but this could be an alternative," she tweeted.
Social media consultant Matt Navarra also tweeted about the new platform and said, "Meta's new text-based app to rival Twitter launching summer 2023."