Alt-tech

Alt-tech refers to numerous social media platforms designed to cater to the alt-right community. The alt-right, also called the alternative right, is a right-wing ideological movement known for direct opposition to racial, gender, and religious equality. Many members of the alt-right were removed from traditional social media platforms, such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), for posting content that violates the platforms’ terms of service. In many cases, such content was anti-Semitic or racist in nature. In response, members of the alt-right created Parler, Gab, Telegram, Truth Social, and other online spaces, where such moderation was not present or not commonly enforced.

Many alt-tech platforms have received substantial criticism for serving as online havens for bigoted communities. This criticism increased after members of the popular alt-tech platform Gab were tied to the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. Additionally, the planning of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol Building had taken place on Parler. For these reasons, large tech corporations, including Apple, Amazon, and PayPal, have refused to allow alt-tech platforms to use their services. Some alt-tech platforms have turned to cryptocurrency to fund their businesses after payment processing companies refused to do business with them.

Users of alt-tech platforms argue that such online spaces are necessary for free discourse to exist. They believe that large corporations are working together to suppress conservative viewpoints, giving an unfair advantage to left-wing political causes. They state that many users of Gab, Parler, Truth Social, and other alt-tech platforms are not extremists, instead preferring to participate in an online space that respects the American right to freedom of speech. These claims became more common in 2021, after President Donald Trump was permanently suspended from what was then Twitter for his comments regarding the January 6 attack. Trump was allowed to return to the platform, which had since become X, in 2023 and has since made Elon Musk, owner of X, a key part of this second administration.

Background

The Internet has had a revolutionary impact on both individuals and the world political stage. It allows people throughout the globe to communicate with one another in real time, making the world feel smaller for everyone connected to the Internet. Additionally, it has allowed news to spread more rapidly than ever before. People can follow major events on the other side of the world as they occur, with large news outlets broadcasting them.

One of the most powerful tools to emerge out of the widespread adoption of the Internet is social media. Social media collectively refers to applications, websites, and other digital tools that focus on community-based input, content sharing, communication, and group collaboration. These tools allow people to share details about their lives and work with others in real time. Consumers tend to use social media to stay in touch with friends and family, receive news, and participate in various online communities. Businesses utilize social media to advertise products, manage brand perception, and collect valuable customer insights. Some of the largest social media platforms are LinkedIn, X, and Facebook.

Though a valuable tool for bringing people closer together, social media has had negative impacts on many people’s lives. Studies show that some individuals find social media addicting, and some individuals experience an increase in stress and depression from using social media. Additionally, many organizations have learned to manipulate the speed at which information spreads across social media.

Because people are more willing to accept information that appears to come from members of their own social circles, political groups and other organizations that value public perception have used social media to advertise and promote their political platforms. Because many of these instances are not easily fact-checked by users, and many users fail to identify propaganda when spread through social media, online interactions can be used to manipulate voters. Experts note that such interactions became commonplace during the late 2010s and early 2020s, particularly on the social media platforms Facebook and X.

To protect their platforms and reputations, social media services began fighting back against intentional disinformation campaigns. They began to fact-check posts, alerting users when a post appeared to present verifiably incorrect information. Additionally, some users who continued to promote inaccurate or verifiably false information had their posting privileges or accounts restricted. Major social media companies took additional action against White supremacists following the Unite the Right rally in 2017, intentionally removing individuals from promoting White supremacist views on their platforms. Into the mid-2020s, debate continued within public opinion, as well as the court system, as to what extent social media companies had the right to remove content from their platforms.

Overview

Many conservative Americans felt unfairly targeted by social media policies intended to fight the spread of disinformation and White supremacy. They felt that the sudden increase in strictness was unfairly targeted at conservative talking points. Many suspected that large social media companies were attempting to use their control over online gathering places to influence the political narrative, increasing the influence of liberal ideas.

Distrust of mainstream social media companies led to the creation of the first alt-tech platforms. The term “alt-tech” quickly came to refer to social media platforms and Internet tools intended to cater to American alt-right and far-right citizens. These platforms offered members of the alt-right community a safe place to express views that would be criticized by mainstream American society, such as advocating for White supremacy.

Gab, one of the first popular alt-tech social media services, was launched in May 2017. The service promoted itself by advocating for free speech and the free flow of online information without restriction or bias from the service’s moderation staff. However, the platform quickly became known for hosting large alt-right communities, many of which espoused anti-Semitic and extremist views. Gab received severe criticism in 2018 when it was discovered that Robert Bowers, the extremist who carried out the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, had a history of using the service to post anti-Semitic content.

Parler, one of the largest alt-tech social media services, was launched in 2018. Like Gab, Parler advertised itself as a new social media platform that moderated its users as little as possible. Parler advertised that it respected its users’ right to free speech, making it popular among the alt-right and other groups banned from mainstream platforms. Whereas members of the alt-right and other fringe political groups felt silence on mainstream platforms, they felt embraced on Parler.

Conflict between the American right-wing and mainstream social media services increased when what was then Twitter began criticizing the tweets of President Donald Trump. Twitter alleged that Trump had repeatedly posted verifiably false information on the social media website. After the president’s remarks following the riots and attacks on January 6, 2021, Twitter permanently suspended his account. Many of Trump’s followers and supporters also had their accounts suspended. Following the suspension, alt-tech social media platforms experienced a surge in popularity.

As authorities continued to investigate the Capitol riots, they realized that much of the planning for the attacks had taken place on Parler. On January 8, 2021, Google removed Parler from the Google Play Store. The company alleged that Parler’s lack of moderation made it a risk to public health and safety. On January 9, Parler was removed from the Apple store, making the application difficult to access for users of the most common cell phone operating systems. Other companies quickly pulled their support from Parler, causing the application to lose access to some of its security services and software tools. When Apple restricted its cloud computing services from Parler, the alt-tech platform went offline. Many Parler users moved to less popular alt-tech platforms. However, on February 15, 2021, Parler returned to active online services with slightly increased moderation services. The company had secured hosting from SkySilk Cloud Services. Trump would eventually return to what had become X in 2023. However, in 2022, he began his own alt-right social media platform, Truth Social.

In addition to its use by political extremists and free speech enthusiasts, alt-tech platforms are sometimes used by illegal businesses. For example, cannabis sales are legal at the state level in many parts of the United States but illegal at the federal level. Some cannabis sellers have turned to alt-tech platforms to advertise their companies, knowing that such advertisements would get them banned from mainstream media spaces.

Many political and technology experts heavily criticize the alt-tech industry, noting that alt-tech platforms Gab and Parler include many extremists. Many of these extremists advocate for White supremacy or express anti-Semitic and racist views. Others advocate for racial and ethnic violence. Because alt-tech platforms refuse to moderate against such speech, the platforms are considered havens by alt-right communities. Because some alt-right users of alt-tech services have been tied to criminal acts, many tech companies have refused to do business with alt-tech platforms.

Some prominent conservatives have criticized these policies, arguing that large businesses are working to silence the right by eliminating the platforms upon which they can safely express their views. However, many companies have alleged that members of the alt-right community have repeatedly violated their terms of service. Some alt-tech services have turned to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to carry out financial transactions after payment processing companies refused to allow them to use their services.

Bibliography

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