Twitter has always been a subject of debate for many. Especially, after Elon Musk took over the platform for a whopping $44 billion. As it appears, this social media platform is undergoing experimentation constantly. While some people liked the new interface, a few are concerned about its future. This resulted in people exploring for new alternatives to Twitter.
If you are among those people, you should wonder about the platform to use. However, no two platforms are alike when it comes to microblogging and how it is standardized. Still, some platforms seem appealing. And, they are attracting new users. This post discusses a few Twitter alternatives that you may consider using after leaving Twitter.
What makes people leave Twitter?
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Platform sustainability and staff turnover issues
As soon as Musk took over Twitter, he laid off almost half of its staff. Apart from these layoffs, about 4400 contractors were eliminated as well. It included heavy hitters, too. The most prominent were Ned Segal, CFO and Parag Agrawal, CEO. Both of them were the successors of Jack Dorsey.
Some executives who resigned included Robin Wheeler, sales head of Twitter and Yoel Roth, safety and trust head of Twitter.
The massive staff layoffs created a dent in the existing Twitter user base. Now, the important executives, departments, and teams are no more part of Twitter. Users felt threatened about the platform’s security and functionality more than ever.
More concerns were raised when the users found out that the 2-factor authentication stopped working like before. The situation came to light soon after Musk declared an end to microservice bloatware. He wanted to boost the platform and cut additional costs. Tensions grew among the users regarding the future of Twitter’s functionality and security.
Uncertainty did not stop for the users even after these drastic changes. Reports indicate that more employees on Twitter resigned who declined to become a part of newer versions of the platform. The mass exodus of employees could be serious. There are few engineers to operate and maintain vital systems that Twitter depends upon.
Users are concerned about Twitter’s frequent security breaches and crashes. Although it is unclear if Twitter is heading towards its end, users are preparing mentally for a potential meltdown of the platform. This is evident from the hashtag RIPTwitter which was trending some time ago.
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X Premium or Twitter Blue
The mass layoffs were mostly intended to make Twitter profitable and for a good reason. If you bought something for $44 billion, you want the best return for your investment.
To make the platform profitable, Musk introduced Twitter Blue. It is a paid and premium version of Twitter. The subscription plan charges a user between $3 and $16 per month. Renamed as X Premium, users get a blue checkmark whenever they purchase it. Some of its benefits include tweeting up to 25,000 characters, posting long videos, and fewer ads. Additionally, users can get their names displayed on top in searches, mentions, and replies. Also, users can edit published posts.
Musk introduced Twitter Blue to counter fake accounts. Sadly, the platform was flooded with more spoof accounts. The blue check on these accounts created more confusion and chaos. While some accounts were created to circulate scams, others were filled with comedic content.
The introduction of the blue check further raised more concerns about the authenticity of the platform among the users. People are wondering how Twitter will clean up this mess in the future. They fear a worsened user experience on Twitter.
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Changes in privacy and AI integration
Twitter has undergone a lot of changes that might impact personal data. And, users are aware of that. A good example is the block feature modification. It bars users from viewing certain accounts on Twitter. This change appears like a ‘mute’ setting intended to prevent interaction. It raised concerns about user interaction and privacy control on Twitter.
Moreover, X integrated AI differently. The platform allows artificial intelligence and machine learning models to learn from users’ posts. People are concerned about how their data is used. Previously, users could turn off the data-sharing feature. The interactions, opinions, and conversations of users have become training material for AI models on X. Although AI-induced feature improves user experience, most users do not want anyone to take advantage of their information. This is another reason why Twitter users are looking for alternatives.
What steps should you take before leaving Twitter?
No wonder, the escalating concerns surrounding Twitter is hard to ignore. However, leaving the platform immediately is not the best way to address the situation. Instead, you should focus on important things before the final goodbye.
Download your archived data before leaving Twitter. The archive data comes in the form of a ZIP file. This data contains information about your account details, devices and apps, interests, ads, and other activities. Now that you have the archived data, you can delete your Twitter account permanently. Deleting your account will prevent intruders from getting their hands on your dormant Twitter account.
The process of downloading archived data and deleting your Twitter account is straightforward. If you find it challenging, look out for online tutorials to secure your data.
Consider these Twitter alternatives for a smooth experience:
Leaving Twitter is a hard decision to make. If you are ready to embrace a new social media life, check out these Twitter alternatives. Hopefully, these alternatives will make you believe that leaving Twitter was a good decision.
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Mastodon
When the news came out regarding mass layoffs on Twitter, certain social media platforms started to attract users. One of them was Mastodon. So, what made Mastodon stand out? Let’s find it out.
Mastodon was launched in 2016. It is an open-source and free software. Mastodon considers itself a part of the decentralized social network. It has similar microblogging features that you see on Twitter. Unlike X or Twitter, Mastodon so not run ads. Besides, it offers 500 characters to users which is more than the 280 characters that Twitter comes with.
The decentralized structure of Mastodon poses challenges to the new users. Mastodon runs on independent servers whereas Twitter acts as a standalone website. The independent servers have separate moderation policies. As such, users sign up to specific servers. They can migrate to a different server later and visit other profiles from different servers.
You need a specific server when signing up on Mastodon. And, you can transfer your profile to another server after signing up on the platform. Also, you can follow profiles that are located on different servers without issues.
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Cohost
Cohost is another Twitter alternative that offers similar functionalities you find on Twitter. There are a few differences, though.
Cohost aims to keep the aspects of Twitter that it considers to be the best while avoiding certain features that Twitter uses. Twitter uses an algorithm to determine what posts appear on your feed. Whereas, Cohost does not use such an algorithm. Cohost displays posts in the order they were posted. It allows you to see content from people you follow.
Moreover, Cohost does not sell user data to buyers. Therefore, users do not have to worry about their privacy. Both Mastodon and Cohost are free from ads. These platforms provide the best user experience. They are least interested in external monetization.
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Bluesky
If you enjoyed the original concept that Twitter offered once, you may consider using Bluesky. It is a project headed by Jack Dorsey, former CEO and co-founder of Twitter. In 2019, Bluesky was announced and in 2022, the testing began. What started as a private beta is now available to the public.
Bluesky is the new way to grow a social network. It aims to give creators everything absent on other platforms. Developers can build anything they want and users can choose the type of experience they are looking for. Although its future is unknown, Bluesky could become the perfect solution for users who prioritize creativity and control.
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Threads
In July 2023, Meta released Threads. Since then, it gained immense popularity. Many people consider it as a Twitter alternative. Threads allow users to connect with their Instagram accounts directly. Also, it supports conversations in real-time. It has an almost identical interface to Twitter. Because Threads integrates with Instagram effortlessly, users can leverage other accounts on the network.
Threads promote a friendly environment and aim to reduce toxic interactions. Initially, Threads did not have a web version. However, Meta resolved the issue followed by user demand. Although the platform does not run ads, Meta might add them when needed.
The initial growth of Threads is impressive, thanks to its Instagram-centric user base. Certain features are still in the development phase, though. Only time will tell whether or not Threads will maintain its unique features. Or, it will become a part of the existing social media ecosystem.
Meta ecosystem and beyond
If the above-mentioned Twitter alternatives do not meet your needs, you may replace X with platforms that come under the Meta ecosystem. You may try WhatsApp, Instagram, or Facebook. Or, you can use TikTok or Tumblr. These platforms might not give you the feel like Twitter but you will experience something different.
It is worth mentioning that Meta has a long history regarding privacy issues. Therefore, users who value data privacy might not use platforms that come under Meta. This is evident from Meta’s focus on developing the Metaverse. People who are used to Facebook or Instagram might spend more time on those platforms if they reduce their time on Twitter. The rise of Threads could make it even more likely that users shift their time from Twitter to Threads. The same applies to TikTok.
Users leaving Twitter could indicate a drastic change in the social media landscape. No wonder, big tech drives internet infrastructure. Reducing social media usage could be the stepping stone in data privacy. Using social media less often can reduce the risk of exposing personal data. Because social media collects data from users, being active means more data exposure.
Still, unsure about leaving social media platforms because of privacy concerns? You can add more security for an improved online experience. A VPN encrypts your internet connection and protects your information from vulnerabilities. It gives you complete peace of mind.
