The BBC has learned from reliable sources that Meta has presented its personnel with ideas for a text-based social network to rival Twitter.
Instagram, Meta’s photo-sharing service, may soon include user-followed profiles.
This could well help them attract new users from other decentralised services like Mastodon.
The BBC has it on good authority that a representative for Meta has confirmed the platform’s development.
“We’re exploring a standalone decentralised social network for sharing text updates,” they said.
“We believe there’s an opportunity for a separate space where creators and public figures can share timely updates about their interests.”
The platform is now being coded, according to Chris Cox, chief product officer of Meta. No specific date was mentioned, but the tech giant plans to release it shortly. Some have speculated that the end of June is a realistic time frame.
Some screenshots of the software that were reportedly given to staff behind closed doors have made their way online.
According to reports, these allegedly stolen screenshots are authentic. If the design principles of Twitter are followed, users of this new service will feel right at home with the interface.
