Politics

Truth Social: Trump’s social network down

To analyse The alternative to Twitter created by Donald Trump has not had the desired effect. Defective and little used, Truth Social did not stand out against the competition.

Truth Social's promotional images signaled the ambition of this new social network. In a fictitious discussion, two users exchange: “Don't you remember how it was in the beginning on the networks? Remember freedom of speech?, evokes the most seasoned of them. ” Freedom of speech? What is that ? “ replies the beginner.

Resignations

When it was launched on February 21, 2022, this platform created by Donald Trump presented itself as an oasis for its supporters, driven from Twitter or Facebook, censored, or expelled from the networks of Internet giants. Six weeks later, Truth Social's future is uncertain. On Monday, April 4, Chief Technology Officer Josh Adams and Head of Product Development Billy Boozer resigned from their positions. Technical problems plagued the application from the start, and thousands of users are still waiting to use it.

The first steps of Truth Social are reminiscent of other similar unfortunate adventures of the former American president, such as Trump University or his bankrupt casino in Atlantic City. Permanently banned from Twitter after encouraging the attack on the Capitol in January 2021, Donald Trump has sought a new communication tool. The result is a platform that bears a striking resemblance to Twitter, the businessman's favorite social network. The application is free but for the moment accessible only on iPhones and only for people residing in the United States.

Only one post from Trump

The platform will not have held the shock even for this relatively small audience. On the very day of its launch, technical shortcomings made it inaccessible for thirteen hours, while 300,000 people were on the waiting list. Since then, some users are still waiting to be registered. Most get discouraged. According to statistics firm Sensor Tower, Truth Social now has more than one million users, which is low on a US scale, and no more than 20,000 new subscribers per day during the month of March. Even Donald Trump did not catch on, his only publication dates from the day of the launch. ” Prepare yourselves! Your favorite president will see you soon! “, he announced. Since then, it has been radio silence.

See also Are social networks good for democracy?

In this situation, the application is far from competing with other American conservative social networks, which claim to be defenders of freedom of expression. Like Parler, which currently has more than 10 million users and has managed to reach an international audience, with former MP Marion Maréchal among its members. Ou Gab, with several million users and which, since 2016, has been seen as a reference for Internet users on the conservative right.

These two social networks have already been banned at least once by Apple's App Store and Google Play Store download platforms. One thing is certain, Donald Trump did not achieve the hoped-for success with Truth Social, but he will at least have benefited from it: Forbes magazine estimates that the operation has already earned him 430 million dollars (393 million euros ).

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