European social network W launches to challenge X

Social network W, which aims to become a European alternative to Elon Musk’s X platform, launched its first public version on Wednesday, AFP reported.

Announced in January at the World Economic Forum in Davos, W chose its name as a reference to X, the next letter in the alphabet. The platform hopes to compete with the American social media giant by building trust among users, CE Report quotes AGERPRES.

The new network has received support from several prominent European figures, including European Council President António Costa. Costa published his first message on W, praising it as “a platform that hosts all its data in Europe, prioritizes the fight against disinformation, and ensures that all its users are verified human beings.”

Headquartered in Sweden, W requires users to verify their identity during registration by scanning a passport or national identity card through a separate application. This process is designed to ensure that all members are real people, although they may still communicate under a pseudonym.

The approach marks a significant departure from many existing social media platforms, where fake accounts and automated bots are widespread.

W is not alone in the growing European social media landscape. Other initiatives, including eYou and Eurosky — an independent social media access platform launched in mid-April — have also emerged in recent months.

Meanwhile, Bulle, which describes itself as a “healthy social network,” was launched in January, while Monnett, a platform positioned between TikTok and Instagram, is expected to release its final version in early July.

Rising tensions between Europe and the United States have increased public interest in local alternatives to major American technology companies. However, these emerging platforms still face significant challenges in attracting large audiences.

The European social media market remains heavily dominated by American and Asian giants. Facebook and Instagram, both owned by Meta, have a combined 259 million users in the European Union, ahead of TikTok with 135.9 million users and X with 115.1 million users, according to figures submitted to the European Commission.

“Social networks come from countries outside Europe. We give them our money, our data, and our attention,” said Anna Zeiter, director of W, during a presentation of the platform in Brussels.

Photo: LinkedIn