Oct 21, 2021, 2:46 PM IST
Former United States President Donald Trump has announced the launch of his own social media platform called 'Truth Social', which will take on Facebook and Twitter. Being rolled out by the Trump Media and Technology Group, the 'Truth Social' will, as per Trump, challenge the liberal media consortium.
The new social media platform is available on Apple App Store for pre-registration and invitees shall receive the beta version of 'Truth Social' from November. Trump intends to formally roll out the platform across the country in the first quarter of 2022. The Trump Media and Technology Group was created through a merger with Digital World Acquisition Corporation.
Countering Twitter and Facebook, Trump said in a statement that 'Truth Social' will stand up to the tyranny of Big Tech, which has allowed the Taliban to have a massive presence, but silenced "America's favourite President". According to Donald Trump Jr, 'Truth Social' will be a platform where everyone can freely express their views. The big tech companies and those on the Left (politics) have been saying that 'well if you do not like the rules we enforce only one way on our platforms, go create your own, Trump Jr said, adding, "We did just that."
To recall, then President Trump was banned from Twitter for a lifetime and Facebook for an unspecified period of time over inciting hate speech. The two platforms also red-flagged him a number of times over his claims, including one of Coronavirus which he claimed was less lethal than the flu. The formal sacking of Trump from these platforms happened after the Capitol Hill riots in January that followed a speech in which he claimed electoral fraud. In July, after exiting the White House, Trump had sued the American tech giants, including Google, for allegedly censoring him.
Besides the 'Truth Social' app, the company is also planning to roll out a video-on-demand service that will feature entertainment programming, news and podcasts.