“Truth Social”: Bumpy start for Donald Trump’s new internet platform

“Truth Social”: Bumpy start for Donald Trump’s new internet platform

After former US President Donald Trump was banned from Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, he wanted to start his own network. This has now started in the USA – but not without problems.

Donald Trump’s own online platform got off to a rocky start on Monday. While there was a lot of interest in the app, dubbed Truth Social, users encountered error links or were put on a waiting list when attempting to download it. According to Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG), the app should be fully operational by the end of March. The ex-president hopes that she will make a comeback on the online networks.

As of Monday morning, “Truth Social” topped Apple’s US App Store rankings for the most downloaded apps, beating out platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. But there were significant problems when trying to download the app.

Waiting list for Donald Trump’s “Truth Social.”

Several users received the message: “Something went wrong. Please try again.” An AFP journalist received word that he had been put on a waiting list “due to popular demand”. “We love you and you are not just a number to us,” it said. “But your waiting list number is: #170,174.”

After the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, Trump was banned from major online platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for spreading hate and disinformation, among other things. “Truth Social” should now enable the 75-year-old to be heard again in the run-up to the presidential election in 2024. Before his expulsion, Trump had around 89 million followers on Twitter.

TMTG’s boss, former Republican Congressman Devin Nunes, on Sunday attacked the major platforms that banned Trump over the past year. “We want customers to tell us what they want on the platform,” he told Fox News. “This is the opposite of some Silicon Valley tech oligarch geeks telling people what to think and deciding who can and can’t be on the platform.”

“Truth Social”: Platform as competition

TMTG had partnered with the stock exchange vehicle Digital World Acquisition Corp. joined forces to raise $293 million on the US stock market in September. Then, in early December, the two groups announced that they had received another $1 billion in funding commitment.

“Truth Social” is intended to compete with other platforms for people who are turning away from the established platforms because of alleged restrictions on freedom of expression. Gettr, launched by Trump’s former adviser Jason Miller in early July, as well as Parler and Gab have already positioned themselves in the market.

Source: Stern

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