Instagram prepares June launch of Twitter competitor: report

Instagram is reportedly planning to launch a direct competitor to Twitter as soon as June.

Though none have yet had full access to the app, a number of celebrities and influencers are working with the company to test the idea, Bloomberg reported, citing "people familiar with the matter."

Few details as to the app's functionality have become public, thus far, though the report indicated that it may eventually connect to Mastodon. News of the development comes on the heels of significant layoffs at Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, in recent months.

Twitter, for its part, has undergone significant changes since billionaire Elon Musk purchased the platform and began adjusting its operations to improve the company's profitability.

Among those changes have been the introduction of the Twitter Blue paid verification system, the loosening of content moderation practices, and the creation of a direct subscription option to individual content creators on the platform.

 Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.