Meta reportedly exploring plans for a decentralized Twitter rival

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is reportedly developing a new standalone social networking app that could pose a serious challenge to Twitter and Mastodon. The app is expected to be text-based, providing a dedicated space for public figures and creators to share information with their followers.

A spokesperson for Meta confirmed that the company is exploring the creation of a decentralized social network that would allow for timely updates to be shared in a separate space. The new app, codenamed P92, is expected to be built on the same framework as Mastodon, launched in 2016.

Unlike Twitter, which has faced advertiser concerns since Elon Musk's takeover, a single entity cannot control Meta's decentralized app and cannot be bought or sold.

Meta's move comes amid struggles to engage younger users on its flagship platform, Facebook, and an increasing competition faced by Instagram from TikTok. The company has also invested heavily in the Metaverse, a virtual world where users can interact and work, but has yet to see significant uptake.

The exact timeline for the release of the new app is currently unclear.