Meta to Launch Text-Based Content App Supporting Decentralized Social Networking

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is reportedly working on a new app that will support the decentralized social networking protocol ActivityPub. The new text-based content app, codenamed P92, will be Instagram-branded and allow users to log in with their existing Instagram credentials, according to a report by TechCrunch. The P92 team plans to follow the "fork" approach in the initial product version, with users' profiles populated with their Instagram account details, such as name, username, bio, profile photo, and followers.

The move comes as technology companies and startups are looking to take advantage of the growing trend of Twitter users seeking alternative platforms. In recent months, several rival platforms such as Mastodon, Post.news, and T2 have either launched or gained traction in their efforts to attract these users. The new app by Meta is expected to compete with these platforms and provide an alternative for users who are looking for a decentralized social networking experience.

The current plan for the minimum viable product (MVP) is to enable users to broadcast posts to people on other servers. However, it is still undecided whether users can follow and view people's content on other servers. The app's initial version will include tappable links in posts with previews, user bios, usernames, verification badges, images, and videos that can be shared. It will also have functionalities such as followers and likes, but it is uncertain whether commenting and messaging features will be included in the product's first version.

The development team is also discussing the possibility of allowing content to be reshared like Twitter, but only for business and creator accounts. The MVP will integrate a rights manager for first-party content from the beginning but not third-party content from other apps and servers. The app will adhere to the company's current privacy policy, but it will also have a supplementary privacy policy and terms of service that specifically address cross-app data sharing.

The move by Meta to support ActivityPub is a significant development in the decentralized social networking space. ActivityPub is an open standard that allows users to share content across different platforms, creating a more decentralized and interoperable social networking experience. Mastodon, a decentralized social networking platform, is one of the most popular platforms that use ActivityPub.

The new app by Meta is expected to provide users with a decentralized social networking experience while leveraging the existing user base of Instagram. The app will enable users to broadcast their posts to people on other servers, creating a more interconnected and interoperable social networking experience. The app's initial version will include basic functionalities such as followers and likes, but it remains to be seen whether more advanced features such as commenting and messaging will be included in future versions.

Overall, Meta's move to support ActivityPub is a significant development in the decentralized social networking space. The new app, codenamed P92, will provide users with a decentralized social networking experience while leveraging the existing user base of Instagram. With the growing trend of users seeking alternative platforms, the new app is expected to compete with other decentralized social networking platforms and provide users with an alternative social networking experience.