Some Twitter users are searching for alternatives after Elon Musk took over as CEO.
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Several platforms have tried to capitalize on the opportunity, some going as far as to promote themselves as better for democracy or safe from fake news.
Here are a few:
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Mastodon
The open-source social framework Mastodon saw a surge of interest. The network offers free software for anyone to use to build their own network and is currently used by the alt-right platform Gab, as well as the left-leaning CounterSocial. The network reported that it received 70,000 new users after Musk’s initial takeover of Twitter. While 70,000 is a drop in the bucket of Twitter’s users, it reflects that a notable number of users are seeking alternate platforms.
Several marginalized communities have taken action to provide hubs to gather off of Twitter. This includes creating smaller communities on Mastodon and Discord servers, according to Wired.
Bluesky
Bluesky, a new decentralized social network backed by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, also saw a surge in users last week. More than 30,000 users signed up for the platform on Friday after Dorsey launched the app’s beta phase the same day as Musk’s initial takeover.
Tribel
Tribel, a self-described “pro-democracy” alternative to Twitter, has been heavily promoted by the liberal Twitter account Occupy Democrats. The network, owned by Occupy Democrats founders Rafael and Omar Rivero, is promoted as a social media alternative that is free of fake news. However, the network’s owners have been accused of promoting false information and profiting from political fundraising.
The Riveros have profited from political activism and spreading false information on their very popular liberal website Occupy Democrats. The Democratic advocacy group raised more than $800,000 in September 2022 but failed to donate any of it to Democratic candidates. The organization has also posted fake claims regularly to Occupy Democrats’ social presence, including articles alleging that Nikki Haley had changed her first name to sound more “white.”
Reddit and Tumblr
Some users are embracing older platforms such as Reddit or Tumblr as alternatives, where niche communities allow users to focus on posting about their interests.
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Twitter has steadily lost its heaviest users since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Thursday Reuters report.
Several popular Twitter accounts said they were leaving the platform over Musk’s content moderation policies. These departures include singer Sara Bareilles, Toni Braxton, and retired wrestler Mick Foley.
