Image: Lia Haberman
Instagram is reportedly working on a new text-based app that could rival Twitter. According to a leaked marketing slide and details shared by Lia Haberman in her ICYMI Substack newsletter, the app, which is codenamed P92 or Barcelona, will let users sign in with their Instagram credentials and post text updates up to 500 characters with links, photos, and videos.
The app will look like a hybrid of Instagram and Twitter, based on two screenshots in the slide. It will also have moderation settings to control who can reply and mention your account. Plus, it will sync with your Instagram followers, handle, bio, verification, and blocked accounts.
But the most interesting feature of the app is that it will be partly decentralized. The slide says that the app will soon be compatible with other apps like Mastodon, a decentralized social network. This means that users on those apps can find and interact with your profile and content, depending on your privacy settings.
The new Instagram text app could be a game-changer for people who are looking for an alternative to Twitter, which has been plagued by various issues. It could also offer a way for people who already have a large following on Instagram to post on this new app without having to start from scratch.