The BBC has learned that Meta has presented staff with plans for a text-based social network meant to rival Twitter.
Users might be able to follow accounts on Instagram, Meta's image-sharing application, that they already follow.
Additionally, it might make it possible for them to recruit users from other decentralized platforms, like Mastodon.
The platform is being developed, a Meta spokesperson told the BBC.
For sharing text updates, they said, "We're looking into a standalone decentralized social network.".
"We think there is room for a separate platform where public figures and creators can share timely information about their interests. ".
The platform is being coded, according to Chris Cox, chief product officer at Meta. Although no release date was specified, the tech giant hopes to do so soon. It has been suggested that it might happen as soon as the end of June.
Online screenshots that were shown to employees internally may have provided a preview of the app's design.
The BBC has learned from insider sources at the business that these stolen screenshots are real. If so, anyone who has used Twitter will be familiar with this new platform's design.
The text-based network, whose working name is P92, may prove to be a more formidable opponent to Elon Musk's Twitter than either BlueSky or Mastodon.
It's challenging to build a community from scratch on a new social network despite the fact that both have drawn users turned off by Twitter.
However, there are many people using Instagram. Though its numbers can no longer be independently verified, Meta claims to have around two billion users, far exceeding Twitter's estimated 300 million users.
P92 (which, when it launches, will undoubtedly have a sexier name) will quickly surpass its more established rival if even just 25% of Instagram users are persuaded to use it.
Although others may not be as complimentary, Meta claims that it draws "inspiration" from other products; for example, Stories on Facebook was based on a Snapchat feature, and Reels on Instagram is eerily similar to TikTok.
Twitter withdrew from the EU's voluntary disinformation code in May after coming under fire in recent months for platform moderation.
Twitter moderation has reportedly decreased under Mr. Musk, which critics claim has enabled a rise in the spread of misinformation.
But since he took over in October 2022, Mr. Musk claims there is "less misinformation rather than more."
