According to a report from Bloomberg News on Friday, Meta Platforms’ Instagram is gearing up to introduce a new text-based app that will directly rival Twitter. The app, which has been in development and testing, may potentially debut as early as June, sources familiar with the matter have revealed.
Influencers and selected creators have been chosen to participate in the testing phase of the product, as stated in the report. However, when contacted for comment, Meta Platforms did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters.
Insights from industry insiders suggest that Meta Platforms has been reaching out to talent agencies and celebrities, gauging their interest in trying out an early version of the app. This upcoming app will be integrated with Instagram but will also feature compatibility with other platforms like Mastodon, according to a newsletter by Alex Heath.
Lia Haberman, a social and influencer marketing instructor at UCLA, also shared details about the app. According to Haberman, the new app has been discreetly made available to select creators for several months now. While it is separate from Instagram, it will allow users to connect their accounts seamlessly.
A screenshot shared by Haberman provides a glimpse into the app’s features. Users will be able to connect with friends through texts, shared links, photos, and videos. Additionally, fans will have the opportunity to easily join the accounts of their favorite influencers and creators from Instagram with just a single tap.
In terms of security, the app is being updated to include robust measures. Accounts blocked on Instagram will soon carry over to this new app, ensuring privacy for its users. Furthermore, efforts are underway to ensure compatibility with Mastodon, Twitter’s competitor platform.
The release of this text-based app by Instagram, under the umbrella of Meta Platforms, is expected to intensify the competition between social media giants, particularly in the realm of text-based communication and influencer engagement. As June approaches, anticipation grows among users and industry observers, eager to see how this new app will impact the social media landscape.