Meta to bring its very own Twitter replacement: reports

Meta Platforms Inc, the company behind Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, is planning on launching a new text-based social media app to rival Twitter, states a report by Reuters.

In an emailed statement to Reuters, a Meta spokesperson claimed that Meta is exploring a "standalone decentralised social network for sharing text updates". According to the statement, Meta believes that there is currently an opportunity for "a separate space where creators and public figures can share timely updates about their interests". 

The new app will reportedly be based on a framework similar to Mastodon, a social media app that functions very similarly to Twitter. A January report from The Guardian states that following the controversial decisions made by Elon Musk after acquiring Twitter, Mastodon saw a large spike in new users - peaking at more than 130,000 new users a day. Meta hopes to replicate similar success if this new app sees light.

The report by Reuters state that with the current condition of Twitter, an alternative option for a text-based social media app would be beneficial for Meta. Since Musk's acquisition, Twitter has struggled to retain their advertising base. A lot of companies also pulled back their support of Twitter after the social media platform allowed paid account verifications, which resulted in scammers impersonating notable figures and companies. 

It is currently unclear when Meta plans to launch this Twitter-like app or exactly how the new social media platform will work. According to the Indian news portal Moneycontrol, Meta's new standalone text-based app will support Instagram login and will be interoperable with Mastodon.