Twitter continues to introduce new features to compete with alternative micro-blogging platforms such as Bluesky and Mastodon, which are gaining momentum. Jack Dorsey, co-founder and former CEO of Twitter, is backing Bluesky, a decentralized platform dubbed “Twitter 2.0.” According to CEO Jay Graber, the company aims to provide users more freedom and developers with locked-open APIs.
Meanwhile, Mastodon, developed by German software developer Eugene Rochko, has been steadily growing since its initial release in 2016, with a stable release in November 2022. These platforms offer potential competition to Twitter, which has been under the control of Elon Musk since 2022.
Twitter is in an arms race https://t.co/U7klETOduc
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) May 1, 2023
Twitter has responded to the growing competition by releasing new features and improvements for its users. One such addition is the expansion of “Community Notes” to Twitter ads. Formerly known as “Birdwatch,” this anti-misinformation tool allows users to add context to potentially misleading tweets. By enabling the feature outside of Twitter, the company hopes to provide more context to users while reading tweets, addressing users’ demand for greater transparency and accuracy.
Recently, the company expanded its Community Notes endeavor, allowing users to view notes across tweets found within articles and on external websites. This update aims to foster user collaboration and clarify potentially misleading content. In addition, by avoiding stringent rules, Twitter hopes to encourage diverse contributions and fair, accurate judgments.
In March, Musk announced upcoming changes to Twitter’s platform, including the ability to respond to individual direct messages, use any reaction emoji, and enjoy encrypted messaging. Additionally, users can expect improvements to the platform’s algorithm, allowing for a more personalized and engaging user experience.
Moreover, Twitter emphasizes its commitment to transparency by making its ranking algorithm available for public inspection. The company believes this openness will help users understand how the platform works and evolves.
Elon Musk also shared an update regarding Twitter’s revenue diversification plans. Starting next year, the company will take a 10% cut from content subscriptions to monetize content and maintain platform sustainability. In addition, users with subscriptions can expect the ability to add more text to tweets and upload longer-duration videos.
Musk announced that starting next month, Twitter will allow media publishers to charge users per article with a single click. This feature accommodates users who may not want to commit to a monthly subscription but are willing to pay for occasional articles.
Since acquiring Twitter for $44 billion, Musk has been striving to boost the company’s revenue following a significant decline in advertising revenue. However, the entrepreneur also stated that the firm’s cut from iOS and Android platforms would decrease from 30% in the first year to 15% in the second.
As Twitter continues to innovate and adapt to user demands, the rise of alternative platforms like Bluesky and Mastodon serves as a reminder that competition and choice remain essential in the ever-evolving social media landscape.
