Yup: Innovative Social Cross-Posting App

The world of social media is experiencing a phase of change, with the emergence of new decentralized platforms promising to revolutionize the way we connect and interact online. While we await the future of decentralized social networks, many alternatives to Twitter are available today.

One such alternative is the app Yup, which offers a unique access point for reading feeds, following friends across various platforms, and performing cross-posting on a series of social apps, including Twitter/X, Bluesky, Farcaster, Lens, and Threads.

The Threads Dilemma

The strength of Yup is its support for Threads, an instant messaging platform launched by Instagram, which promises to integrate with the ActivityPub protocol used by Mastodon and other decentralized social apps. Currently, the API of Threads is not yet publicly available, meaning Yup has found an alternative solution to support the app. Yup informally uses an ‘internal API’ utilized by Threads’ web client, but intends to migrate to the official API once it is released.

It’s important to note that using Threads through Yup requires deactivating two-factor authentication on Instagram, an additional security measure that allows access to the app via a code sent by SMS or through an authentication app. TechCrunch recommends deactivating two-factor authentication, despite the app’s request for cross-posting to Threads, Twitter, and Bluesky being quite widespread.

The Fracture of the Social App Ecosystem

Launched by Elon Musk, Twitter (now called X) has led to a fragmentation of the social app ecosystem, with the emergence of new rivals like Mastodon, an open-source decentralized platform, and Threads, which promises to integrate with the ActivityPub protocol used by Mastodon and other decentralized social apps. Further, competing protocols such as the decentralized Farcaster and web3-based Lens are seeking to reclaim control of the social web. Bluesky’s AT Protocol is also vying to become a decentralized alternative to the giants of social media.

The Founders of Yup and Their Vision for the App

Yup was founded by Nir Kabessa and Vernon Johnson, who met at Columbia University and are both interested in web3 and open social networks. Yup’s goal is to provide users with a platform that allows them to build their audience on various platforms through cross-posting and interaction with open protocols, while still maintaining their presence on large social apps like Twitter/X. Currently, Yup supports Twitter/X, Bluesky, Farcaster, Threads, and Lens, and is exploring the possibility of adding support for other services like Mastodon and Nostr, the decentralized protocol preferred by Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and current CEO of Block.

Features of Yup

The app Yup offers a range of functionalities to simplify the user experience. Once you’ve linked your accounts, it’s possible to select from the main composition screen which apps you’d like to cross-post to. Additionally, Yup supports a search function for people, posts, and signals, and offers a variety of thematic feeds, including personalized feeds, followed feeds, and feeds dedicated to topics like web3, artificial intelligence, NFTs, music, podcasts, videos, and more. However, during our tests, we have encountered some difficulties in regularly updating some of these feeds, notwithstanding our account connections. Hence, at the moment, we cannot recommend Yup as a standalone app for navigation.

Challenges and Hopes for the Future of Yup

Yup faces various hurdles for the future, such as citation and the reposting of content from one platform to another. Further progress is necessary to make the app fully functional beyond cross-posting. Nonetheless, the development of an app like Yup is an indicator of how we have reached a point where numerous competing protocols exist for a decentralized social web.

This, however, makes it more challenging for users to move away from big tech companies in the sector and for developers faced with a fragmented and confusing landscape. The ultimate goal should be to achieve a consensus that allows for interoperability among the various protocols.