Technically speaking, this is perfectly doable. That’s why Meta is analyzing possible plans to launch its own social platform based on short-format messages. Such a step would be aimed at taking over a large share of users from Twitter.
A Twitter logo – artistic interpretation. Image credit: Alexander Shatov via Unsplash, free license
The timing would be well-suited for this endeavor, as Twitter’s management is currently riddled with a host of problems, the main of which is low revenues. The flow of cash still doesn’t seem to pick up, as the advertising industry cautiously assesses the platform’s capabilities to moderate content in response to the surge of hateful and abusive online speech.
“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,” said the Meta spokesperson.
What could we expect from this strategic step?
If developed and launched, the functionality of Meta’s app would likely be very similar to what is offered by Twitter and an alternative platform named Mastodon that was launched in 2016 and gained significant popularity after Twitter’s users started exploring alternative services.
Twitter also experiences reduced technical stability and lowered user support quality due to drastic reductions in its workforce and increasingly proliferating automation. This could be another beneficial factor for Meta as an additional marketing measure for attracting its future app’s users.
Meta itself has challenges to resolve. Its main product, Facebook, has a hard time attracting attention from a younger audience. Its current largest investment, Metaverse, does not generate revenue that could make up for its costs, too.
