Is Parler Really a Free Speech Haven?

Parler — A Free Speech Social Media Option (However is it truly?).

If there’s one thing that we have actually found out lately, socials media aren’t precisely known for being a safe haven for free speech.

But there’s a brand-new opposition in town, Parler, and it’s gaining traction fast.

Facebook and Twitter users are gathering to the new social media platform in droves, attracted by Parler’s anti-censorship stance.

Is Parler truly anti-censorship or simply another wolf in sheep’s clothes?

What is Parler?

Parler is an alternative to Twitter with over 1.5 million users. It is rapidly growing in appeal, specifically as Twitter, Facebook, and other social media giants punish false information and questionable material.

This new social networks platform closely resembles Twitter in appearance and function (although it’s not as sleek and well-refined).

Just like other social media websites, the standard facility of Parler is for users to follow each other, engage with public figures, news outlets, celebs, and other users.

Public posts on Parler are called “parlays” instead of “tweets” and can include as much as 1,000 characters (unlike 28 characters on Twitter).

Parler’s users can “echo” or “vote” on “parlays” to show their approval.

Just like on Twitter, users can search for hashtags, comment on posts, “echo” posts (retweet), and “vote” (like) posts.

There’s likewise a direct messaging function, standard with any social networks platform nowadays.

Parler seems like a Twitter copycat so far?

So what’s special about Parler?

Parler’s primary selling point is that it accepts flexibility of speech with little to no small amounts.

“ If you can state it on the street of New York, you can state it on Parler,” Founder and President John Matze discusses.

It appears as though Parler is profiting from current claims against Facebook and twitter for censoring content and discriminating against conservative political speech.

Unlike other platforms that often use fact-checkers or editorial boards, Parler declares to moderate its content based upon FCC standards and Supreme Court rulings.

Essentially, Parler is the wild-wild-west for realities, leaving it as much as users to examine the credibility of facts and posts.

Who are Parler’s Normal Users?

As pointed out previously, Parler has approximately 1.5 million users compared to Twitter (330 million) and Facebook (2.6 Billion), but its anti-censorship position continues to attract users every day.

Since Parler declares to secure users’ privacy by not tracking or sharing their information, it’s challenging to get a personality on the normal user; nevertheless, Matze himself told Fox News, “It’s mainly conservatives; however, we have actually seen a big increase of younger very left-leaning individuals, a great deal of [Black Lives Matter] individuals who have in fact concerned argue with the conservatives who are signing up with.”.
Source: Fox News.

If that’s the case, why does Parler’s personal privacy policy state that information collected can be used for advertising and marketing.

And why is Parler offering a $20,000 “progressive bounty” for a freely liberal pundit with 50,000 followers on Twitter or Facebook to sign up with?

Is Parler Truly a Free Speech Zone?

What if all users seeking a social media platform where they could post at will without fear of censorship have been fooled?

A glance at Parler’s user arrangement shows that they moderate material the same way as any other social media platform, perhaps even more.

That’s right; you can get censored on Parler. Let me explain:.

According to Parler’s Community Guidelines

“ Parler might eliminate any material and end your access to the Services at any time and for no reason or any factor.”.

Just like any other social media platform, Parler’s community standards prohibit a variety of material, consisting of:.
spam.
terrorism.
unsolicited advertisements.
libel.
blackmail.
bribery.
criminal behavior.

Although there are no plainly defined rules concerning hate speech, there are policies against “threats of damage.”.

There are guidelines versus obscene material, sexual material, content that does not have major literary, artistic, political, or clinical worth.

For example, you can’t publish photos of genitalia or feces.

Interestingly enough, Twitter permits “consensually-produced adult content,” however just if it’s significant as delicate. Oh, you can publish pictures of doo-doo on Twitter if you’re so inclined.

Since it’s a privately-owned company, Parler is free to get rid of whatever material it wants and ban users that breach their requirements.

As you can tell, while Parler may declare to be a home for objective free speech where anybody is complimentary to share their beliefs without worry of fact-checking and censorship, they’ve certainly reserved the right to do so.

Tonya Sanchez.
BlakSheep Creative.
tonya@blaksheepcreative.com.