Meta is looking at a new social platform that could compete with Twitter

Facebook’s parent company, Meta, is looking into a new social media platform that could rival Twitter, as the company remains in turmoil under CEO Elon Musk.

“We are exploring a standalone decentralized social network for sharing text updates,” a Meta spokesperson said in a statement to The Hill.

They added, “We believe there is an opportunity for a separate space where creators and public figures can share timely updates about their interests.”

Decentralized social networks, which typically allow users to form separate communities and set their own rules and guidelines, have grown in popularity in the wake of Musk’s chaotic takeover of Twitter.

Mastodon, one such decentralized network, exploded in popularity after the Tesla CEO took over Twitter last fall. It grew from less than 500,000 active users in late October to more than 2.5 million in early December, rising every time Musk made controversial decisions, according to Watchman.

However, some found the decentralized network too complex to serve as an adequate alternative to Twitter, with Mastodon’s user count dropping to around 1.8 million users in early January.

Meta has followed in Twitter’s footsteps on several issues since Musk’s takeover, launching a verified subscription service along the lines of Twitter Blue and restoring former President Trump’s access to his Facebook and Instagram accounts after bringing him back to Twitter.