This is what Instagram’s upcoming Twitter competitor looks like
www.theverge.com
Meta says people want a communications platform that’s “sanely run.”

Here is what we know about it so far:

  • It will most likely be called Threads.
  • It is not known what domain it will use for usernames.
  • In mockup screenshots, a user replies to someone using an @mastodon.social handle, it’s very likely that they will federate.
  • It will be side app of Instagram. It’s not clear how much of the new network will be baked into the main app.
  • Your username and verification status will carry over, so early adopters won’t have an advantage for their preferred username.
  • Your followers will not carry over but there will be an easy way to pick and follow people on your Instagram list.

Personal observations:

  • Many people that I talked to about it think that this will be Meta’s attempt at an “EEE”.
  • Some Mastodon instance admins that I chatted about it say that Meta will “likely attempt to pull their user data”, and they “will defederate immediately”.
  • operator@kbin.social
    2·
    2 years ago

    AHAHA i can already see whats gonna happen.

    1. Meta pouring millions of dollar into the development
    2. Meta releases their new network
    3. Most instances, especially the big ones, defederate(*)
    4. Metas app fails due to failing content and engagement.

    The only option they have is forcing everyone from insta & co over to Threads.

    *) I am not a fan of defederation, but I’d rather defederate Meta than freely give them all the data. Makes it harder for them to crawl^^