Instagram’s new Twitter competitor app could launch next month

Instagram is reportedly working on a new app that will allow users to post short text updates, similar to Twitter.

The app, codenamed P92, Project 92 or Barcelona, is expected to launch as soon as late June, according to a leak by Lia Haberman, a social media expert and Substack writer.

Haberman claims that she obtained the information from a creator who met with Meta, the parent company of Instagram. According to her leak, the app will have the following features:

• It will be decentralized and compatible with some other apps like Mastodon, a social network that allows users to create their own communities.
• It will have a single sign-on with Instagram, and users will be able to sync up with their existing followers, handle, bio and verification.
• It will have a centralized feed showcasing followers and recommended content, and users will be able to post text updates up to 500 characters, as well as links, photos and videos up to 5 minutes long.
• It will have creator controls and account safety features, such as blocking, reporting, hiding words and 2-factor authentication.
• It will follow the same community guidelines as Instagram.
• Haberman also speculates that the app might not have ads at the beginning, and that it might replace the Twitter screenshots that are popular on Instagram. However, she cautions that it is impossible to predict how audiences will respond to the new app.

The leak comes at a time when Instagram is facing increased competition from other platforms, such as TikTok and YouTube, that are attracting more creators and users with their monetization and engagement features.

Instagram has been trying to innovate and diversify its offerings, such as launching Reels, a short video format inspired by TikTok, and adding more shopping and live features.

However, some critics have argued that Instagram is losing its original appeal as a photo-sharing app and becoming too cluttered and confusing.

Others have raised concerns about the privacy and security implications of having multiple apps under Meta’s umbrella.