Trump’s social media platform becomes top free app on App Store within a day of launch

After getting banned from multiple social media networks in January 2021 for making allegedly inflammatory comments, former US president Donald Trump has launched his own social media platform called Truth Social. The Truth Social app was released on the Apple App Store on Sunday and within a day became the top free app on the store, reported Reuters. Due to the massive demand, many users were unable to create an account and were put on a waitlist.  

Trump had indicated in October 2021 that he was planning to launch his social media platform. 

The Truth Social app has been developed by Trump Media and Technology group (TMTG), which is said to have raised $1 billion from multiple investors in December 2021. However, the company is waiting for a merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC), a company that deals in mergers and asset acquisition and stock purchase. DWAC’s deal with Trump's firm is reportedly being investigation by financial regulators in the US.  

Time for some Truth!!! pic.twitter.com/jvyteDb5gW

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 15, 2022

Though Facebook, Twitter and YouTube banned Trump from their platforms after the events of the US Capitol attack in January 2021, the former US 0president was involved in frequent run-ins with them throughout his term. For instance, in June 2020, Twitter added a public interest notice to a post by Trump for violating its policy against abusive behaviour. A few days later, another social media platform Reddit banned its largest pro-Trump subreddit for posting hate speeches.  

Trump on his part signed an executive order in May 2020 to scrap certain safeguards that protected social media companies from liability for user generated content posted on their platform. The order gave powers to federal agencies to take action against social networks that were found to be censoring free speech.   

In July 2021, BJP-led central government also tried to clamp down on social media networks with threats of taking away their immunity. The government told the Delhi High Court that Twitter had lost its immunity from liability for user generated content for not complying with the provisions of the Indian IT Act.