Parler's website is back online, but app still not in stores

Parler, which was founded in 2018, is a social media network that styles itself as a 'free speech-driven' space


Reuters January 18, 2021
PHOTO: REUTERS

NEW YORK:

The chief executive of social media platform Parler, popular with American right-wing users but which virtually vanished after the US Capitol riot, posted a brief message on the company’s website. Parler’s app, however, remains offline.

“Hello world, is this thing on?,” Matze asked in a message dated Saturday, posted above a note from the company saying the platform would be restored after challenges were resolved.

Google suspends Parler social networking app from Play Store

A little over a week ago, Apple suspended Parler from its App Store, shortly after Alphabet-owned Google banned it from Google Play. The app is still unavailable for download on both platforms.

Amazon then suspended Parler from its web hosting service, effectively taking the site offline unless it can find a new company to host its services.

What is Parler and why has it been pulled offline?

Parler, which was founded in 2018, is a social media network that styles itself as a “free speech-driven” space. 

US right-wing social media users have flocked to Parler, along with other apps such as Telegram and social site Gab, citing the more aggressive policing of political comments on mainstream platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, which intensified after the January 6 Capitol riot.

Parler has had about 10.8 million installs globally from across the App Store and Google Play, 8.7 million of those from the United States, according to Sensor Tower data. In January, it said it has over 12 million registered users.

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