In the microblogging battle, two prominent contenders have emerged with the intent to overthrow Twitter’sTwitter’s reign. Among them are Spill and Threads, both vying for the coveted position of a leading microblogging platform.
Spill, a brainchild of ex-Twitter executives, aspires to create an online haven where diverse voices can flourish. Its unique selling point lies in its unwavering commitment to inclusivity and representation, setting it apart from its rivals. By prioritizing the empowerment of marginalized communities, Spill aims to redefine the microblogging landscape and foster an environment that celebrates diversity and individuality.
They recognize that the objectivity of technology is a misconception and believe that incorporating different perspectives, including those of social media app developers, in building platforms is crucial.
On the other hand, Threads is the brainchild of Meta, the company behind Facebook, which has been keen on leveraging Twitter’sTwitter’s business challenges since Elon Musk took control of Twitter last October. Musk’sMusk’s involvement intensifies the rivalry between him and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, reminiscent of a showdown in a steel cage. As these newcomers enter the arena, the battle for dominance in the microblogging realm becomes even more intriguing.
Threads
Instagram has recently unveiled Threads, a potential rival to Twitter, on the iOS App Store in the United States. The app, set to debut on July 6, aims to capitalize on Instagram’sInstagram’s already substantial user base. Its seamless integration with Instagram sets Threads apart, as it effortlessly imports your existing followers and followings. This feature eliminates the need to start from scratch and allows users to engage with their established Instagram circles immediately.
Described as a platform where communities converge, Threads offers a space to discuss a wide range of current and future trends. The App Store description highlights the ability to follow and connect with favorite creators and individuals with similar interests. Moreover, it encourages users to cultivate a dedicated following, allowing them to express ideas, opinions, and creativity with a global audience.
With Twitter experiencing recent setbacks due to rate-limit errors, other contenders such as Spill, Bluesky, and Post have witnessed significant growth. However, Threads may possess a competitive edge by leveraging Instagram’sInstagram’s existing user base and established community dynamics. As the launch date approaches, it remains to be seen how Threads will fare in the highly competitive social media landscape and whether it will effectively entice users seeking a Twitter alternative.
Though Threads is closely connected with Instagram, it will be its stand-alone app. We only have a little information from the App Store listing alone, but users can like, comment, repost, and share posts. The App Store screenshots also show that you can toggle what audience you want to be able to reply to your posts — everyone, people you follow, or only those mentioned in the post.
Spill
The Spill is a social media app created by Alphonzo “Phonz” Terrell and DeVaris Brown, former executives at Twitter. Their mission with Spill is to provide a platform that prioritizes user safety and fosters a better user experience. They are building the app with a diverse team of developers, training its artificial intelligence systems to detect and combat abusive user behavior effectively.
Terrell emphasized the importance of designing the platform with anti-abuse systems to protect marginalized groups from harassment and create a more inclusive environment. They recognize that the objectivity of technology is a misconception and believe that incorporating different perspectives in building platforms is crucial.
In Spill, users don’t “tweet” but rather ” spill,” drawing inspiration from the phrase “spill the tea.” The app aims to ensure that users are appropriately compensated for their content if a spill goes viral. To facilitate this, Spill plans to utilize blockchain technology to create records of content creators, simplifying the compensation process. However, details about which blockchain network will be used and how the technology will function have yet to be disclosed.
Spill is in an invite-only beta phase on the Apple Store after its launch in January. It is exclusively available on Apple’sApple’s operating system at the moment, but there are plans to expand its availability to Android.
Other Alternative Twitter Options That Are on The Market
- Bluesky
Founded by Twitter’sTwitter’s co-founder Jack Dorsey and spun off in 2021, Bluesky is an invite-only app that takes a decentralized approach to social media. It aims to give users more control over their data and the content they see. While visually resembling Twitter, Bluesky lacks direct messaging, live streams, and video support.
- Post News
Created by former Waze CEO Noam Bardin and backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Post News positions itself as a new way of thinking about the relationship between publishers and social media. It focuses on enabling publishers to generate revenue using micropayments. Although some basic features are still being developed in the testing phase, it has garnered attention from high-profile publishers.
- Mastodon
Launched in 2016, Mastodon is one of the older and more populated Twitter alternatives. It operates on a decentralized network of interconnected social networks, allowing each network to have its own rules and policies. Mastodon is open source, functions similarly to Twitter (users “toot” instead of “tweet”), and operates as a nonprofit platform.
- Hive
Launched in 2019 but gaining attention after Musk’sMusk’s involvement with Twitter, Hive offers features such as following other users and posting content. It claims to be free of algorithms that determine content visibility on other platforms, and its main channel reportedly displays content in chronological order.
- Spoutible
Spoutible originated in February from Bot Sentinel, a Twitter analytics tool for tracking harmful or fake accounts. It prides itself on being a safe, inclusive, and enjoyable online space with a zero-tolerance policy for targeted harassment, hate speech, disinformation, and platform manipulation.
Author’s bio: Anastasiia Lastovetska is a technology writer at MLSDev, a software development company that builds web & mobile app solutions from scratch. She researches the area of technology to create great content about app development, UX/UI design, tech & business consulting.
