can there be an alternative that the new Twitter will be?

Our editors share a lot in common: a heightened interest in Android and a great need to race their fingers across keyboards. But, that doesn’t mean they always agree. In AW Discussion Thursday we put each other to the test with a statement every week. Last week we discussed compact phones, this week we have to talk about social media: can there be a really big alternative instead of Twitter?

Twitter alternative

Laura: Twitter has been making a bit of a mess lately, do you think there could be an alternative that will become the new Twitter?

Claudia: Elon Musk makes it very easy for the Twitter user to switch to something else.

Jelle: I think it’s a tricky one. We always find it difficult to let go of something and start all over again. Often there is negative news about a social media channel that we all use and then there is a week of hype to switch to a competing platform, but that hype is over after this and then almost everyone goes back to the old familiar (think to ‘WhatsApp-gate’ when it became known that FB took over)

Laura: Yes, but I think Twitter is really going 10 bridges too far and there is really no way back. At WhatsApp, not much changed in the operation of the app…

Claudia: Jelle, what do you think? Are you transferring yourself quickly?

Jelle: No.

Claudia: You are basically only on Snapchat 🙂

Jelle: Go snapchat haha. Twitter goes a long way. And if there’s one competitor going to save it, it’s Threads!

Claudia: But I think fediverse alternatives like Mastodon are too complicated for the masses. Threads offers a great alternative because of the link with Instagram.

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Twitter off

Laura: But you Claudia, are you off Twitter yet?

Claudia: Yes, long since stopped tweeting, haven’t you seen it?

Jelle: The step to switch must be and remain as small as possible. Then you have a chance.

Laura: I don’t really scroll on it: I only check Twitter when I need a tweet for an article. I also notice that other media are already building in some sort of certainties: The Verge is now posting screenshots of tweets instead of links to them.

Claudia: Me too, watch it now and then for work.

Jelle: Twitter has just become a terrible drain.

Claudia: I stopped doing it because of Elon’s tweaks and the terribly sour people commenting on tweets.

Jelle: Exactly, all those lemons throwing acid on you

Laura: But do you think Threads won’t become a drain then?

Claudia: Fixed over time too. Twitter has also brought me a lot: this job, my friend. So I am eternally grateful to the network and will miss it.

Laura: Your friend even? How cute! I’ve also had quite a few jobs left over from Twitter, but to be honest: also quite a bit of stress about people acting bad. As far as I’m concerned, it can go: too much luggage.

threads

Jelle: In terms of news, Twitter was often nice too. Always be the first to know

Claudia: Social networks come and go. Just like humans.

Jelle: Which platform will be the next to disappear do you think? If you say Snapchat, I’ll stop responding right away

Laura: I just don’t think Threads will become as popular as Twitter, which is mainly due to the fact that there is now just a lot of choice on social media.

Claudia: Snapchat hasn’t been that popular for a long time.

Jelle: Jelle has left this chat.

Claudia: TikTok is very popular among teenagers. I do worry about that. Privacy concerns. And above all, they get their news from there. So as this generation gets older, Facebook and Insta will suffer even more.

Laura: I think Snapchat is one of the nicest social media in terms of possibilities, but my generation can’t be found on it. Don’t think that’s going to go away though. As far as I’m concerned, Facebook would be better off leaving.

After-apery

Jelle: Social media is all about imitation at the moment too. TikTok is coming, gosh Instagram is coming with Reels. Twitter gone? Instagram hooks up. Snapchat popular? Also filters in Instagram. Shoemaker stick to your reading.

Laura: Yes, but that imitation is successful, such as the Stories on Insta and the Reels… I understand that they choose that. And if something doesn’t work, it disappears again, like Stories on LinkedIn (that was completely crazy).

Claudia: In the car industry and also the smartphone market, everything is copied from each other. That has proven to be a successful strategy.

Jelle: Yes, it is, but sometimes I also find it incredibly annoying. I was on Instagram for the photos and now I’m being thrown to death with crazy silly videos, I wasn’t on Insta for this. If you want this, go to TikTok.

Claudia: Instagram must of course continue to evolve to keep up with the competition.

Jelle: The changes also ensure that the strategy and focus are shifted elsewhere, while one particular focus is/was your starting target group.

Laura: True, but that starting target group has also gradually disappeared to other social media.

Jelle: Just look at Spotify too, they also wanted to throw everything together. What a drama that was, now happily back to where the focus belongs: music, podcasts and discovering music.

Claudia: As a company, if you see that another product is much more popular, you adjust your own in order to continue to compete. Even if you thereby abandon your initial goal. That will also be the case with social media and we all give off on Facebook, but in the meantime that is an old-timer. The longest surviving.

Blue birds

Laura: Yes, unfortunately that will never change. Anyway, Twitter is not/less for us for a while, and if it dies it won’t be a disaster?

Claudia: Our readers quit Twitter and don’t look for an alternative. It’s not a disaster, indeed: beautiful memories remain.

Jelle: It doesn’t make me sleep less no. You can also find blue birds in your garden. A beautiful bluetail, blue tit or kingfisher.

Claudia: But will Threads emerge as the Twitter alternative? I don’t think for now.

Jelle: Phoe difficult, I think there will be another hype (already downloaded ten million times) I wonder if this hype can continue

Claudia: In any case, we will follow it closely. Have already placed the first ‘Threads’.

What do you think, is there a social medium that can replace Twitter and if so, could it be Threads? Leave it now in the comments.