Described as an alt-tech social networking service, Parler has gathered a following of users who oppose mainstream social network policies. They include those banned from mainstream social networks and those who disagree with the company’s business model. Its founders are reportedly conservatives and journalists have dubbed it an alternative to Twitter.
It was founded by conservatives
Founded in 2018, Parler is an alternative social media platform aimed at conservatives. It’s a free-to-use app that invites users to follow conservative news outlets, blogs, and right-wing celebrities. It features a “word of mouth” feature, like Twitter, in which you can repost other people’s posts. It also allows users to share and receive comments and likes. It also has rules against obscenity, pornography, and false rumors.
The site is owned by a conservative media personality, Dan Bongino. Bongino’s posts are often among the most shared content on Facebook. He beat out President Trump, other major political figures, and even news outlets.
Some other big names have joined Parler in the past few months. These include Cassandra Fairbanks, Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk, and Tucker Carlson. Another prominent user is Senator Ted Cruz.
In early 2018, the site grew rapidly. Its popularity grew when Twitter and other social media platforms began to moderate false claims about the election. Some of the biggest boosts in users came after platforms took down Trump’s tweets.
It’s a platform for corporations and brands
During a tumultuous month, Parler became the target of controversy. Some claim that Parler was a conspiracy-theory hub, allowing people to engage in fake news. Others say that Parler helped spread baseless claims of voter fraud.
One rumor has it that Parler was involved in the Capitol insurrection. Parler CEO John Matze told Forbes that the platform does not have any fact checkers. The executive committee of the company is currently evaluating candidates for a new CEO.
As Parler continues to evolve, it will need to find a new web hosting service. It may need to build from scratch. Its parent company, Parlement Technologies, is in talks with a number of conservative businesses. It is not clear if the company will continue to grow or if it will close.
Some social media giants are taking steps to mitigate the spread of extremism. Twitter, for example, has begun to flag false election claims. Facebook has also increased its efforts to flag misleading posts.
It’s taken down by Google and Apple
Earlier this week, tech giants Google and Apple snuffed out Parler. They did this after it failed to properly moderate violent and criminal content on its platform. The app had become the communications hub for far-right extremists and racists.
Parler’s CEO, John Matze, said that his company had “no tolerance” for violence or hate speech. He also defended the company’s content moderation policies. The policy calls for users to not purposefully spread false rumors and bans certain types of content.
In an effort to improve its moderation policies, Parler hired a new CEO. But the app has struggled to gain traction since its ban. It’s unclear whether Parler will be able to recover from the ban.
It’s hard to imagine Parler being allowed to return to the major app stores. The company says it’s currently looking for a new web hosting provider. Depending on the provider, it may remain offline for up to a week.
If Parler does find a new web hosting service, it will likely have to comply with Google’s rules. If not, it will be removed from the Play Store.
