Parler, a social media app used predominantly by conservatives, has come back to life after more than a month. The platform was taken off Apple, Google, and Amazon stores and servers. The website is currently up and running and waiting for users to make their new accounts. Parler has even gained a new interim CEO, Mark Meckler. Why was Parler taken down in the first place?
Parler Being Singled Out
During an interview with Fox and Friends, Chief Policy Officer of Parler, Amy Peikoff, made it clear they felt Parler was singled out. Parler received backlash for “allowing violent speech” this is something they have made it clear they do NOT support. Peikoff said Parler is “a non-partisan town square in which people of varying viewpoints can have productive discussions. Force and threats of force stop those discussions.” Google and Apple both took Parler from their app stores around the same time. Piekoff says Google did not contact Parler removing the platform from the Play store. Peikoff says Parler was “set up,” a theory that doesn’t seem too far fetched.
Parler Was Set Up
It doesn’t seem right for Parler to be removed for “violent speech” when on Twitter, around the same time, one of the trending topics was #hangmikepence. They allowed this trend for hours after they permanently banned Former President Trump. Twitter is obviously trusted to resolve issues themselves and don’t lose their spot as the 6th most popular free social app on Google Play Store. Why wasn’t Parler given the same opportunities to remove violent content? Peikoff believes it is because the platform believes in Free Speech which is now seen as a conservative view and not a promise this country was built on. Peikoff also stated many accounts that had violent writings seemed to be parody accounts. This theory and even further back up by the fact that #parlerapp on Tik Tok has 6.6 million views with the top videos all being videos from around the time Parler was shut down. These videos show people flaunting how they were going to destroy the app with ratings and fake accounts “like they did Trump’s app.” The videos show screen recordings of people making fake accounts and posting violent speech. Parler was set up and singled out for being a place conservatives felt safe. Their safe space was taken down and for a while they were greeted with a message reminding people why Parler was created in the first place. Now they are back up and running, giving users a place they can go once again.
Parler Back Online
Parler has made a comeback with interim CEO Mark Meckler. Former CEO John Matze was fired from the Board of Directors and gave statements saying the app was trying to censor him which is odd given the foundation of the platform is free speech. Peikoff called these statements “inaccurate and misleading.” Parler is on the hunt for a new CEO while their website gets back up and running. They are currently using a hosting platform called SkySilk. SkySilk seems to have faith that Parler will be able to moderate their app perfectly fine. SkySilk said it believes Parler is “taking the necessary steps to better monitor its platform. Skysilk does not advocate nor condone hate, rather, it advocates the right to private judgment and rejects the role of being the judge, jury, and executioner,” the company said. “Unfortunately, too many of our fellow technology providers seem to differ in their position on this subject. … SkySilk will support Parler in their efforts to be a nonpartisan Public Square.” The website had a design and logo change and is ready for new users.
Written by: Erinn Malloy
