00:00Could this be your new alternative to big tech social media platforms?
00:04WSocial says it can challenge platforms like X with a distinctly European approach.
00:09The pitch? Data stored in Europe. Every account linked to a real person.
00:14The Swedish startup claims this could reduce bots, fake profiles and manipulation.
00:19Unlike most social networks, every user must verify they are a real person,
00:23using a passport or national ID card.
00:26WSocial says the verification happens on the user's device and that it does not store identity documents.
00:33Users can still appear under nicknames rather than their real names.
00:36Critics remain skeptical.
00:38They question whether people will trust a social network that requires ID verification
00:42and whether it can really deliver on its promises of privacy and security.
00:47And despite rumors online, this is not an EU project.
00:51It's a private company based in Sweden.
00:53For now, access is limited.
00:55Most people can only join a waiting list,
00:57while many of the early users include politicians, journalists and public institutions.
01:03But building a successful social network takes more than just the software.
01:07It needs users.
01:09Only if enough people join and stay active,
01:11can WSocial become a genuine alternative to platforms like X.
01:16Would you hand over your passport data to join a social network?
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