Twitter Alternative Pebble to Shut Down Due to Slow Growth and Investment Shortfall

Closure of would-be Twitter competitor Pebble highlights challenges in crowded field of social media alternatives despite holding a loyal base of 20,000 users, with operations set to cease November 1, 2023.

Pebble, a Twitter-like social network established by former Twitter employees, is shutting down due to slow growth and a lack of sufficient investment. Despite its aim to capture the market with a more 'authentic' and safer platform, its growth rate was unable to meet investor expectations.
Formerly known as T2, Pebble managed to accumulate around 20,000 users, with daily activity falling to 1,000 post the rebranding. Even though it attracted a loyal user base, it struggled to expand amid the fierce competition in the social media landscape.
The startup attracted early investment including a $1.1 million funding round from angel investors for its mission to create a Twitter alternative. However, its founders believe that the crowded competitive landscape evolved quicker than anticipated and was a contributing factor to its downfall.
Despite the shutdown, Pebble was able to create a 'kinder, safer' platform with effective moderation system, differentiating it from controversies faced by similar platforms. However, it's now speculated that positioning too far into 'kindness' might have limited the platform's appeal and unawareness of users' desire for more open dialogue.
While the company management is preparing for its shutdown, it's allowing users to download an archive of their public posts and is exploring potential ways to keep in touch with the small but engaged community that had formed around Pebble.