A new European social media platform called W Social was unveiled at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, positioning itself as an alternative to Elon Musk's X for users who want stronger privacy protections and fewer bot accounts. The platform, which should be available in the Netherlands and across Europe by the end of 2026, comes at a time when Dutch users are leaving X in large numbers and EU regulators are clashing with American tech companies over digital rules.
W Social is being built by a Swedish company called W Social AB, which is a subsidiary of We Don't Have Time, a climate-focused media platform. The project is led by Anna Zeiter, a Swiss privacy expert who previously served as Chief Privacy Officer at eBay for more than a decade. She holds a PhD in law from the University of Hamburg.
According to Zeiter, the name W stands for "We" and also references the journalistic questions: who, what, when, where, and why. The logo contains two hidden letter Vs representing "Values" and "Verified." Zeiter has noted that the fact W comes before X in the alphabet is "a welcome coincidence."
The platform will require all users to verify their identity, including providing a photo, before they can create an account. This approach is designed to reduce the number of bots and fake accounts that can spread false information. All data will be stored on European servers and will be subject to EU data protection laws, including the GDPR.
W Social plans to release a beta version in February 2026 to around 1,000 selected testers. Media partnerships will be announced in the summer, followed by a full public launch toward the end of the year. The company has secured funding to operate through 2026 and plans a larger funding round later this year. It currently has more than 750 investors from around 15 countries.
Not an EU project
Despite some viral claims online, W Social is not backed by the European Union or the European Commission. Euronews fact-checked this claim and confirmed the platform is privately funded by investors mainly from the Nordic region. While the parent company We Don't Have Time has received EU funding for climate communication work, none of that money is connected to W Social.
However, the platform does align with broader EU goals around digital sovereignty. In January 2026, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for stronger European cloud computing and AI infrastructure. A group of 54 members of the European Parliament also urged the Commission to consider supporting European alternatives to US platforms, arguing that X is no longer a balanced tool for political communication following Musk's takeover.
X loses ground as alternatives emerge
The launch of W Social comes as X continues to lose users in the Netherlands. Research by Newcom found that X lost nearly 500,000 Dutch users in the past year alone, one of the steepest declines among major platforms. Meanwhile, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok all gained users.
The Netherlands has around 14.8 million social media users, representing about 81 percent of the population. WhatsApp remains dominant with 13.5 million users, followed by YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. X now ranks among the less popular platforms in the country.
Alternative platforms are slowly gaining ground among Dutch users. Mastodon, a decentralised open-source network, attracts those seeking an ad-free experience. Bluesky, backed by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, is building a small but growing Dutch user base. Threads from Meta has also gained traction as users look for options beyond X.
Dutch social media expert Jaap van Zessen told newspaper AD that he expects demand for an alternative to X to be high. However, he warned that the identity verification requirement could be a barrier for many users who value their anonymity online.
X under pressure in Europe
W Social's launch follows a period of tension between X and European regulators. In December 2025, the European Commission fined X €120 million under the Digital Services Act, the first penalty issued under the landmark regulation. The fine was based on three findings: the paid blue checkmark system was deemed deceptive because anyone can buy verification without meaningful identity checks; the advertising repository did not work properly; and the platform made it too difficult for researchers to access public data.
Musk responded by calling for the abolition of the European Union and portraying the fine as regulatory overreach. Senior US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, criticised the EU for targeting American companies. The European Commission maintained that the case concerned consumer protection and transparency rather than free speech.
The platform has also reduced its moderation staff in Europe even as concerns about harmful content and misinformation have grown. These issues have contributed to the exodus of users seeking platforms with stronger community standards.
Will it work?
Previous attempts to draw users away from established platforms have had mixed results. Mastodon saw a surge of interest after Musk bought Twitter but has struggled to become mainstream, with under one million monthly active users globally. Bluesky has grown to about 24 million users but remains far smaller than X's estimated 132 million daily active users.
W Social faces the challenge that affects all new social networks: users want to be where their friends and contacts already are. Even with concerns about X, many people stay because that is where their professional networks and communities exist.
The identity verification requirement could prove to be both a strength and a weakness. While it may reduce bots and fake accounts, it could deter users who prefer anonymity or who are uncomfortable providing personal documents to a new platform.
For Dutch users frustrated with X but hesitant about decentralised options like Mastodon, W Social may offer a middle ground: a familiar social media experience with European data protection and stronger verification standards. Whether enough people will make the switch remains to be seen.
