Meta is Reportedly Building a Decentralized Social Network

• Meta is reportedly working on a Twitter competitor.
• The team is exploring a standalone decentralized social network.
• The platform is still in the early stages.

Meta is reportedly working on building a next-generation replacement for Elon Musk’s Twitter. According to the report from Money Control, the Meta team is exploring a standalone, decentralized social network.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Meta is currently formulating a strategy to develop an independent, text-based content application that will support ActivityPub – the decentralized social networking protocol behind Twitter competitor Mastodon and other applications.

A Meta spokesperson said:

We’re exploring a standalone, decentralized 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.

According to the reports, the decentralized app will be Instagram-branded, and users can make use of the app using their Instagram credentials. However, it is unclear whether the app – under the codename ‘P92’ – is still in its ideation or development stage, although, a source has disclosed that it is still a work in progress.

The app would probably have “tappable links in posts with previews (like Twitter), user profiles, usernames, and verification badges,” according to the list of features. The concept also included making images and videos shareable on the app’s preliminary versions. Even though the like and follow functions will be present, it is unclear if the product’s initial iteration will include commenting and messaging options. They will all eventually be added, though.

According to a source,

The team is also discussing whether to have the ability to reshare content like Twitter apart from business and creator accounts. A rights manager will be integrated from the beginning for first party content, but probably not for third party content from other apps and servers.

The app will also be made available in accordance with the business’s current privacy policy. But, an app-specific “supplemental privacy policy” and terms of service will also be made available.

The new revelation has definitely raised questions, as it is evident that it is a clear competitor for Twitter. As an example, Elon Musk issued a brief prohibition on Twitter users from disclosing their Mastodon profiles in December, which coincided with a rise in demand for Twitter substitutes. These and other considerations led Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey to regularly call for the creation of a decentralized version of the network.

Currently, there is no exact information regarding the app’s current stages and when it will be out for the public.

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