Why Parler, the Unbiased Social Media Platform, Faced Controversies and Shutdown in 2023?

Parler was a social media platform that claimed to be an unbiased alternative to mainstream networks like Twitter and Facebook. It attracted many conservative and far-right users who felt censored or unwelcome on other platforms. However, Parler faced a series of challenges and controversies that led to its shutdown in 2023.

One of the main reasons why Parler was shut down was its failure to moderate violent and hateful content posted by its users. Parler was allegedly used by some of the participants of the January 6th, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, where supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the building to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden's victory. Parler was accused of not doing enough to prevent the spread of posts inciting violence and threatening democracy.

As a result, Parler was banned by several tech companies that provided essential services to the platform. Google and Apple removed Parler's app from their app stores, citing violations of their policies on content moderation . Amazon Web Services (AWS), which hosted Parler's website, also suspended its account, effectively taking Parler offline. Parler sued Amazon for breach of contract and antitrust violations, but the lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge.

Parler tried to find alternative hosting providers, but faced difficulties and delays. It briefly came back online in February 2021 with a new host, SkySilk, but faced technical issues and low user engagement. Parler also faced internal turmoil and leadership changes. Its original CEO John Matze was fired by the board of directors in February 2021 and replaced by George Farmer, a conservative activist and investor .

Under Farmer's leadership, Parler shifted its focus from being a social media platform to providing cloud services and IT solutions to other conservative groups and organizations through its parent company Parlament Technologies. Farmer said that Parler's social media business was no longer viable or profitable in the face of competition from other platforms like Trump's Truth Social or Gettr.

In April 2023, Parler was acquired by Starboard, a digital media company that also owns several conservative websites and publications. Starboard announced that it would temporarily shut down Parler's website and app to conduct a strategic assessment and plan a relaunch with a new vision and direction. Starboard said that it would leverage Parler's large user base and assets to build its media and publishing business and serve marginalized or censored communities online.

As of now, Parler's website displays a message from Starboard explaining the acquisition and shutdown. It is unclear when or how Parler will come back online, or whether it will retain its original identity as a free speech platform for conservatives. Parler's fate shows how challenging it is for alternative social media networks to survive and thrive in a market dominated by big tech companies and mainstream platforms.