Meta is Working on a Decentralized Social App – Meta tends to jump on board with popular social media trends, as we have seen with their adoption of various formats such as Stories and short videos after the success of other platforms. Currently, the Mark Zuckerberg-led company is developing a decentralized text-based application.
While Meta has acknowledged the development of this text-based app, they have not disclosed any specifics regarding its release date. “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,” a Meta spokesperson said.
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As initially reported by MoneyControl, the decentralized app codenamed P92 is still in its developmental phase. The documents reviewed by the publication reveal that users will be able to log in using their Instagram credentials, a feature that may be concerning to some individuals who are hesitant to share their data with another Meta application.
According to Platformer’s report, Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, will supervise the project. Additionally, the company is reportedly engaging its legal department to identify potential privacy concerns in advance of the app’s public release. Meta’s recent action is perceived as an effort to create a rival to Twitter or Mastodon.
The latter gained traction after Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter. Mastodon is a decentralized network that operates within the Fediverse, a network of decentralized servers that support the ActivityPub protocol. According to MoneyControl, Meta’s upcoming app intends to support ActivityPub, allowing for easier connections with other instances such as Mastodon.
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Numerous other tools, such as Tumblr, Flipboard, and Flickr, have already implemented or are planning to implement support for ActivityPub. However, decentralization extends beyond this protocol. Bluesky, which is backed by Jack Dorsey, recently introduced its iOS app in beta. Furthermore, messaging apps like Rocket.chat have adopted the Matrix protocol.
