Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are in a disagreement about Meta's objective to commence a social media network similar to Twitter. Allegedly, the project has been labelled P92 and may be named Threads. It is said to have a close association with Instagram.
For months, Meta has been developing a text-based social media platform similar to Twitter that could compete with other networks released after Elon Musk purchased Twitter in 2022. This prompted a heated exchange between Musk and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, which ended with a lighthearted invitation to a "cage match" fight in Las Vegas.Meta has acknowledged that they have been "investigating a stand-alone, decentralized social network for sharing text updates" but has remained mum on other details about the app.Meta has a distinct edge over its rivals, BlueSky and Mastodon, in that they already have a huge base of users on Facebook and Instagram. This, combined with their connections to brands and advertisers, might make it easier for them to make a profitable launch.Nevertheless, the trust and safety teams at Meta have experienced major downsizing and this, along with the issues of disinformation that have been linked to the company, could make it difficult to convince the advertisers that the app will be problem-free.So far, this is what we know.
Project 92, or P92, as previously reported by Platformer in March, appears to be the codename for an app called Threads that is reportedly being developed by Meta. According to a June report from the Verge, the app is said to be highly integrated into Instagram. A top executive at Meta is said to have noted that multiple high-profile users, such as celebrities and content creators, are interested in a "sanely run" platform.In addition, a screenshot reportedly shows a single-sign on (SSO) feature, with the words "Log in with Instagram" featured on the landing screen.Meta appears to be leveraging its existing relationships with institutions, celebrities, and news organizations to stimulate user and content generator numbers, which would potentially drive up advertising revenue and reinvigorate an aging fanbase.
Renders acquired by the Verge depict an interface that noticeably mirrors Twitter's feed, as well as the iconography and symbols that replicate Instagram's current UI. It's likely that the similar look will make it simpler for users to comprehend the integration of ActivityPub, a social media protocol devoted to the growth of "decentralized" social networks, allowing for different platforms to interconnect with each other. This integration permits systems that use ActivityPub, such as Twitter's rival Mastodon, to have connection with Project 92. A render exposed by the Verge effectively demonstrates that integration.
Meta's chief product officer Chris Cox reportedly said that they had discussed the possibility of having the Dalai Lama and Oprah Winfrey join the platform at the time of its launch. According to Instagram, the Dalai Lama has two million followers and Winfrey even more - around 23 million. Because of their influence, these high-profile users could give Meta a monetizable and captive audience from the beginning, which could give them an advantage over Twitter.
In January, the company started constructing the platform, shortly after Musk's takeover of Twitter, and Meta anticipates the app will be ready for use this summer, both Bloomberg and other sources have noted.
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