NEW YORK: In a move aimed at providing an alternative to Twitter, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is reportedly working on plans to launch a new social network. The decision comes as public figures and influencers express a desire for a platform that is better managed, alluding to the controversies surrounding Twitter since Elon Musk’s takeover.
Over the past few months, Twitter has faced criticism for its lack of content moderation, resulting in outages, layoffs, and a decline in advertiser confidence. Despite the need for an alternative, no significant competitor to Twitter has emerged, leaving global leaders, politicians, celebrities, and companies with limited options for communication.
According to reports, Meta has shared its staff’s plans for a text-based social network that would allow users to follow accounts they already engage with on Instagram. The company believes that there is room for a separate space where creators and public figures can share timely updates about their interests.
Issues with Twitter
The new network, codenamed P92, is expected to be launched in the near future, with some reports suggesting a possible release as early as this month. The move comes at a time when Twitter is facing criticism for its moderation practices. In May, the platform withdrew from the European Union’s voluntary disinformation code, raising concerns about the spread of disinformation due to reduced moderation efforts—an allegation that Musk denies.
Twitter is also grappling with financial challenges, including an advertiser boycott prompted by concerns about declining moderation standards and a failed relaunch of its subscription service, which led to an influx of verified impersonator accounts.
The launch of Meta’s rival network aims to address these issues and provide users with an alternative platform that prioritizes content moderation and offers a more controlled environment for public figures and creators.
