Donald Trump is back on social media (kinda), and this time he's got his own platform. At least potentially. This is because Trump's team has launched a brand-new social media platform called GETTR, as an alternative to the existing big tech platforms.
Trump's Team Launches a New Social Media Platform
With Donald Trump banned from most social media platforms for months, the team behind the former President has launched a brand-new social media platform. The platform, called GETTR, advertises itself as an alternative to the existing big tech platforms.
GETTR's mission statement shows that the site aims to fight "cancel culture, promote common sense, defend free speech, challenge social media monopolies, and create a true marketplace of ideas". The main takeaway from the statement is the "marketplace of ideas," as that's the slogan plastered all over GETTR's branding.
The new social media platform is being led by Jason Miller, one of Trump's former spokespeople. The specific details of Donald Trump’s involvement with the social media platform are unclear, although the app is 100% linked to Trump's team and campaign to reenter politics. We're not yet sure if Trump is going to make an account on the platform, but there are plenty of accounts pretending to be him.
We know that Trump has been looking for new ways to engage with his supporters online, ever since his ban from most social media sites in January 2021. Notably, the former President launched a blog, which, it's fair to say, did not succeed. Instead, it was met with derision, and ended up disappearing due to low levels of engagement.
What Is GETTR and How Does It Work?
GETTR was first published to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store around mid-June, with no official launch event or campaign. Despite the lack of advertising, the team's app has been downloaded a few thousand times so far, and has even drummed up some ratings and reviews.
We've already seen GETTR's mission statement, but its App Store description calls the platform a "non-bias social network for people all over the world". The app has the "M" or "17+" rating depending on your currently, meaning the app is meant for more mature audiences.
The new social media platform has both a website and a mobile app. Taking a look at GETTR, the app's UI bears a striking resemblance to Twitter's UI. Users can follow other accounts on the platform and post their own content for other members to see.
So, Is Trump Back on Social Media?
So far, Trump hasn't made an account on GETTR. And although the app was launched by Trump's team, the specifics of the former President's involvement remain unclear.
Perhaps he's waiting to see how GETTR is received by the tech-savvy general public before nailing his colors to the mast.