As Twitter’s ad revenue and reputation continue to tank since Elon Musk became owner, former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Meta are working on their own versions of the next Twitter.
Dorsey’s Bluesky launched in a closed beta on iOS in February and on Android this month. The app looks a lot like Twitter and runs on a decentralized network, providing users with more control over how the service is run, data is stored, and content is moderated, according to CNN.
Bluesky has gained traction among journalists, politicians, and celebrities, with more than 375,000 downloads from Apple’s App Store and 100,000 downloads from the Google Play Store.
Dorsey’s approach is to create a protocol—rather than a platform—that is owned by no one, unlike Twitter. Bluesky is currently invite-only as it ramps up support for the implementation of its network. Existing users get one invite code to share with someone every two weeks that they’re on the app.
Some users have expressed concern about Bluesky’s terms of service, however.
Meta, on the other hand, is reportedly working on a Twitter alternative called “Barcelona.” It is a text-based social app that aims to tap into the rising popularity of private messaging in a more expanded, accessible format. With the prototype already in place, the release date is yet to be announced.
Both Bluesky and Barcelona are trying to capitalize on Twitter’s controversies under Musk’s leadership. Musk has made a number of controversial changes to the platform’s features and policies, including the removal of blue checkmarks from prominent users. This has resulted in high-profile users being openly critical of Musk’s moves at Twitter.
Meta APps Surpass 3 Billion Daily Users
Meta’s social network (i.e. Facebook) gained 37 million users during the first quarter, bringing total daily users up to 2.037 billion, according to Engadget.
Additionally, daily users of the Meta “family of apps” surpassed 3 billion for the first time in its history. This record comes during Mark Zuckerberg’s “year of efficiency” (i.e. thousands of layoffs).
Meta reported $28.6 billion in revenue for Q1, a 3 percent increase year-over-year, so the strategy seems to be working so far.
Other news
- YouTube Music is adding podcasts for U.S. listeners.
- Pinterest is partnering with Amazon to bring third-party ads to the platform.
- Year-over-year percent growth in Google and YouTube ad revenue still doesn’t paint a pretty picture.
- This is how Disney’s plans to buy Buzzfeed in 2013 went awry.
That’s all for this week’s Marketing Roundup. Check back in next Friday for more news. And subscribe to our newsletter below for additional updates.
