Social Network W Launched In Europe: An Alternative To X
Credit: W
This week, a group of European organizations launched a new social media platform, W, aimed at users in the region and positioned as an alternative to Elon Musk’s X social network and other US-controlled services. The new social media platform is led by former eBay executive Anna Zeiter, and is designed for Europeans wishing to distance themselves from US-based services.
The initiative has received support from a number of European politicians and business representatives. User data will be stored decentralized within Europe, and the platform will fully comply with EU data protection legislation.
Anna Zeiter stated that systemic disinformation on social media undermines trust in institutions and weakens democratic processes. She argued that Europe needs its own social network that combines verification, freedom of speech, and a high level of data privacy.
The project is largely a response to the EU’s protracted conflict with Elon Musk’s X platform (formerly Twitter), which was fined $140 million for violating GDPR regulations. The European Parliament noted that after Musk acquired Twitter, the platform lost its status as a neutral tool for political communication and journalism.
The new European social network is available at wsocial.eu, but at this stage, it is only in beta testing. A special code is required to access the platform. Mobile clients for interacting with the social network have not yet been released. According to the project’s creators, W will adhere to stricter privacy and data protection standards than other social networks.
