Instagram will reportedly launch text-based app to rival Twitter

In a secret meeting with select creators, Instagram’s parent company, Meta, reportedly revealed its plans to launch a text-based conversation app. Leaked screenshots of the alleged upcoming app show a Twitter-like user interface.

Instagram had plans to compete with Twitter open By Lia Haberman, an influencer marketing and social media marketing teacher at the University of California, Los Angeles Extension. According to Haberman, although the text-based app is built on top of Instagram, it is decentralized and will function as a separate app. The app will also be compatible with other decentralized social media apps such as Mastodon, allowing users to reach a wider audience.

Meta is briefing creators on its upcoming text-based app – now eyeing a possible late June launch.

Details are in my newsletter but I’ll list some highlights pic.twitter.com/KYqqXjrRmD

— Lia Haberman (@liahaberman) May 19, 2023

The upcoming app will maintain a centralized feed like Twitter, allowing users to view content such as text, images and videos shared by followers and recommended accounts. Each text-based post will be limited to a word count of 500 characters.

While the app will function independently from rival Twitter Instagram, creator controls and account security features, such as blocked accounts and keywords, will move to the new app.

Sources confirm that Instagram is working on a Twitter competitor (a separate app) for release this summer. It may eventually adapt to open solutions like Mastodon. credit to @liahaberman @MattNavarra @KC Newton for past behavior https://t.co/f2KNITGZy6

— Sarah Frier (@sarahfrier) May 19, 2023

Bloomberg reporter Sarah Fryer reportedly confirmed to insiders the development of Instagram’s Twitter-like app. Meta first confirmed plans to develop a standalone decentralized social network in March. Said, “We are exploring a standalone decentralized social network for sharing text updates. We believe there is an opportunity for a separate space where creators and public figures can share timely updates about their interests.

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With a view to providing further decentralization to the Internet, TBD – a division of Jack Dorsey’s fintech company The Block – announced a Web5 decentralized web platform that aims to introduce “decentralized identity and data storage” for applications.

To facilitate this decentralized web experience, TBD’s Web5 platform will introduce several key components and employ the use of decentralized identifiers.