Twitter is falling, and it’s falling fast.
After Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, it was only a matter of time before. Musk’s increasingly erratic changes drove Twitter users away from the platform in droves, and the launch of a rival app, Threads, may have just shut the lid on the coffin.
But what if Threads just isn’t the platform for you? But what if you don’t want to deal with Musk or Zuckerberg? What if you want to try another social media platform altogether?
Never fear, because we have you covered. Here are 5 alternatives to Twitter and Threads that may interest you:
BLUESKY:
If you want an alternative to Twitter and Threads, Bluesky is one of your best options. It looks identical Twitter with one major difference: it runs on a decentralized network, which means that users have a lot more control over how their content is moderated, their data is stored and their service is run.
Bluesky is backed by Twitter’s co-founder Jack Dorsey, although it was still funded by the company. However, it became an independent organization in February 2022.
Dorsey introduced the idea in 2019 and said that he wanted to “build an open community around it, inclusive of companies & organizations, researchers, civil society leaders,”. However, he warned followers that “this isn’t going to happen overnight.”
CLUBHOUSE:
Clubhouse is an audio-based social media platform, making it unique from all the other platforms on this list. It offers a fantastic alternative to Twitter by offering its users interactive, real-time conversations in an engaging online environment, which provides its users the perfect opportunity to explore their niches and engage in live discussions with fellow Clubhouse users.
However, Clubhouse has an exclusive, invite-only nature. This may make it better for networking and learning, but may turn off a few users who prefer more informal, easily accessible networks.
SPILL:
Spill was launched by former Twitter employees and gained “hundreds of thousands of new users” last weekend, according to its CEO, Terrell.
Spill’s aim is to be “a visual conversation at the speed of culture”. The site definitely relies on visuals, prioritizing videos, memes and GIFs, which makes it the ideal destination for artists and creators. It’s also become a haven for Twitter users from marginalized communities who are seeking a safe space for open and respectful discussions online.
MASTODON:
Mastodon was launched before Elon Musk took over Twitter, but, naturally, became a massive hit after the acquisition.
Built on decentralized networks, Mastodon allows its users to join different servers run by different groups and individuals, rather than one single cental platform. After they join, users should ideally pick a server, with options from general internet services (such as mastodon.world), regional servers and other various interests.
The best part? It’s free of ads.
COHOST:
Cohost is a relatively new app. It was launched publicly in June 2022 and offers its users a text-based social media feed with followers, likes, comments and reposts. It may seem fairly similar to Twitter, but there’s one major difference – Cohost is chronologically based with no ads, no displayed interactions, and no trending topics.
Jae Kaplan, co-founder of the company that developed Cohost, said: “People who hear ‘Facebook has a Twitter replacement now!’ and don’t immediately run for the hills are unlikely to be interested in anything we’re doing,”, adding that, “We’re in separate market niches. I doubt they’re going to do anything to try and appeal to our users, and we’re not going to do anything to try and appeal to their users.”
According to their website, Cohost is trying to create a space for open dialogue.
None of these options are exact replicas of Twitter, and none of them will give you the exact same social media experience. But they are more viable – and, even more importantly, safer – alternatives that you should probably consider if neither Twitter nor Threads appeals to you.
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