Ask HN: Why isn't anyone creating or promoting an alternative to Twitter?

In the midst of various problems faced by Twitter, an alternative application for Twitter has a great opportunity. As has happened during the migration of users from Digg to Reddit or from Yahoo to Google. But I don't see any Twitter alternatives popping up.

Because it's already been here since 2016: Mastodon.

Kara Swisher recently interviewed Noam Bardin, the creator of:

https://post.news/

This seems like a public square with the exact opposite goals of Elon (heavy moderation)

It's interesting because I don't know if it's possible for anything to truly replace Twitter. I think what will happen is people will splinter off into online forums where they feel most comfortable based on the level of moderation on each site and who is there. Twitter was unique in that everyone was on it, sadly I don't think we'll ever have that again.

I wonder how much people are secretly just hoping Twitter dies with no replacement. Skepticism about social media is basically the default position for educated professionals now, who are likely to already have distanced themselves from Facebook. The Twitter users I know would be happy to get rid of it, if not for the perceived career benefits (likewise with LinkedIn). When Twitter no longer offers any ladder-climbing benefits for technocrats, it will degenerate to be a shittier cousin of Instagram.