Instagram could make a move to Twitter’s patch with plans to introduce a rival text-based app.
According to insiders, the platform, owned by Meta, is testing its new model with celebrities and influencers.
The small group of trusted celebrities has been accessing the app for months, This is reported by the South China Morning Post.
Users will be able to link the new app to their Instagram, it is reported, although they will remain separate applications.
It could debut as early as June, according to marketing professor Lia Haberman, who shared a screenshot of an early app description.
Instagram could make a move to Twitter’s patch with plans to introduce a rival text-based app
Social media lecturer Lia Haberman noted that the new app is “a lot like Twitter”
Ms Haberman suggests the new app could eventually be used alongside Mastodon.
“Historically, we know that Meta likes to try and recreate features from other third-party apps and tools based on what they expect to be popular with their users,” she said.
Ms Haberman pointed to Twitter owner Elon Musk’s suggestion that his platform could become an “everything app,” with a host of additional features beyond informational posts.
She added, “Based on Meta’s track record of borrowing from other platforms, it’s much more likely they’ll be there first by consolidating all these experiences they’re building.”
In March, Platformer first reported that Meta was building a text-based app.
Elsewhere, Twitter on Thursday accused Microsoft of violating the social network’s rules for developers accessing the platform’s data, according to a copy of a letter seen by AFP.
Microsoft stopped accessing Twitter data in April and chose not to pay any fees.
Meta’s plans for a new text-based app arrive Twitter is undergoing sweeping changes with owner Elon Musk (Photo: Twitter headquarters in San Francisco)
Instagram headquarters in Silicon Valley.
Twitter called on Microsoft to identify all Twitter content it had control over the past two years; how it was stored and what was done with it, the letter to Nadella said.
Microsoft has confirmed that it has received a letter from a law firm representing Twitter with some questions about its past use of the free Twitter API.
“We will review these questions and respond appropriately,” a Microsoft spokesperson said in response to an AFP inquiry.
“We look forward to continuing our long-term partnership with the company.”
Twitter said in the letter it is investigating whether Microsoft has exceeded “reasonable request volume” in what could be “abuse.”
Twitter wants the information by June 7, the letter said.
The question comes as Elon Musk wants to generate revenue by charging developers to access the Twitter platform that was free before the billionaire took over.
Musk is also out to counter Microsoft and Google with his recently formed X.AI artificial intelligence company based in the US state of Nevada, according to business documents.
Musk fired off a Tweet last month accusing Microsoft of illegally using Twitter data to train artificial intelligence, writing “time for trial.”
Big tech companies like Google, Meta and Microsoft have spent years building AI systems – formerly known as machine learning or big data – to help with translation, search and targeted advertising.
Microsoft is investing billions of dollars in ChatGPT maker OpenAI and has put its technology to work in its internet search service Bing.
Since taking over Twitter in late October, Musk has repeatedly sparked controversy, firing most of his employees, allowing far-right figures back onto the platform, suspending journalists and charging for previously free services.