Meta, the parent company of Instagram, is reportedly planning to launch a text-based conversation app that aims to rival Twitter. The leaked screenshots of the alleged upcoming app show a user interface similar to Twitter, featuring a centralized feed where users can view text, images, and videos shared by followers and recommended accounts.
The app, built on top of Instagram, will function as a separate decentralized app, compatible with other decentralized social media platforms like Mastodon, expanding users' reach.
Lia Haberman, a social media marketing teacher, unveiled Instagram's plan to rival Twitter. Although the app operates independently of Instagram, it will inherit creator controls and account safety features such as blocked accounts and keyword filters. Each text-based post on the new app will be limited to 500 characters, resembling Twitter's character limit.
Insider sources, including Bloomberg reporter Sarah Frier, have confirmed the development of Instagram's Twitter-like app. In March, Meta had already announced its intention to explore a standalone decentralized social network for sharing text updates, catering to creators and public figures to share timely updates about their interests.
In line with the vision of decentralizing the internet, TBD, a division of Jack Dorsey's fintech company Block, has revealed plans for a Web5 decentralized web platform.
The platform aims to introduce decentralized identity and data storage to applications, enhancing the decentralized web experience. TBD's Web5 platform will incorporate various components and leverage the use of decentralized identifiers.
These developments in the social media landscape indicate a growing interest in decentralized platforms and a shift towards giving users more control over their data and online presence. The launch of Instagram's text-based app and TBD's Web5 platform signals a continued exploration of decentralized alternatives in the realm of social media and web applications.
