Social media app Parler is gaining traction among conservatives who are frustrated with Twitter over a number of high-profile suspensions on the platform.
Parler CEO John Matze said his platform, which surged to the 26th spot on the iOS App Store chart and No.1 in the “News” category as of Thursday, offers users the freedom to speak their minds while shielding personal data from third-party companies.
“This is a symbol that we want a Town Square for free discussion,” Matze wrote on Thursday. “We the people do not want to be told what to think, we do not want to be manipulated, and we want our data to be private.”
The app, which was created in 2018, drew in 500,000 new users in a few days this week, according to metrics obtained by Mediaite, bringing it to a total of 1.5 million users. Twitter has about 330 million monthly active users.
Top Republican politicians have pitched the social network throughout the week, and Sen. Ted Cruz produced a video bemoaning the power of companies such as Twitter to police speech.
“Big Tech is out of control, filled with hubris and flagrantly silencing those with whom they disagree with, from conservative media organizations to the President of the United States — and millions of Americans in between,” the Texas Republican said.
Matze, who created the platform in August 2018, said he “rejects” the standards of newsroom fact-checking and censorship.
“We reject … those who think they are the sole arbiters of truth,” Matze added. “We reject their biased editorial panels, we reject their ‘fact checkers,’ and we reject censorship.”
