Summary

The article describes the author's exploration of Parler, a social media platform known for its "free speech" ethos, revealing a landscape rife with extreme conservative views, conspiracy theories, and content that often crosses into hate speech.

Abstract

The author, who joined Parler under a fake profile, reports that the platform is a haven for those espousing far-right ideologies, often characterized by pro-gun, anti-government, and anti-liberal sentiments. The content frequently includes misinformation, such as denials of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, as well as unfounded claims about UFO conspiracies and the U.S. becoming communist. Parler's user base tends to equate any form of content moderation with censorship, and the platform's design closely mirrors Twitter, with its own version of tweets called "parleys." The author notes the presence of targeted advertising that caters to the platform's conservative and conspiracy-minded audience. Despite advocating for free speech, the author observes that Parler's culture often devolves into attacks on marginalized groups and progressive ideas, suggesting that the platform may prioritize profit from controversy over constructive discourse.

Opinions

The author perceives Parler as a platform where extreme "America First" ideologies are prevalent, often accompanied by a distrust of mainstream media and government institutions.
Parler's community is seen as hostile towards liberal viewpoints, with a tendency to label any form of content restriction as an infringement on free speech rights.
The author implies that Parler's version of free speech can be a guise for spreading hate and misinformation, particularly targeting marginalized groups.
There is a critique of the platform's monetization of outrage and misinformation, as evidenced by the targeted ads and the existence of a Parler-branded merchandise store.
The article suggests that while critical thinking and skepticism are valuable, Parler's user base often dismisses progressive ideas without consideration, contributing to a cycle of hate.
The author expresses a personal stance that is left-of-center but emphasizes the importance of not taking liberal statements at face value, advocating for a balanced approach to information consumption.
The author contemplates challenging the prevailing sentiment on Parler by posting pro-liberal content to observe the reaction, hinting at a potential double standard regarding free speech on the platform.

The ‘Free Speech’ Platform Parler Is as Bad as Expected

I joined incognito to check it out, so you don’t have to.

You have probably heard of Parler, where some “free speech” advocates go when they’re kicked off mainstream social media for their views. That includes Ye (formerly known as Kanye), who recently faced backlash over anti-Semitic comments. He is now reportedly planning to buy the entire Parler platform.

I joined Parler as an experiment recently, just to see how dark it is inside. Of course, I’m using a fake profile (which I may reveal in the future), but you can rest assured it is sufficiently America First with all the stars and stripes.

The content is exactly what you might expect

The site looks pretty much exactly like Twitter, with some of the actions renamed (for example, you “parley” instead of “tweet.”) As expected, there are a lot of posts about God, America, and boobs draped in American flags. Its tone is openly angry at “liberals” perceived to restrict their rights, as demonstrated by its sidebar news feed.

I also noticed that aside from the posts from actual users, the ads on Parler are definitely targeted at a gun-loving, conspiracy-touting audience. I mean, to be fair, this makes sense from a marketing perspective.

Here’s a post that claims government conspiracy linked to UFO sightings, also reminding us that space is “fake and gay”.

Of course, they say the COVID pandemic was obviously fake. Just like the Sandy Hook shootings, right Alex Jones? Oh, what’s that? You owe close to $1 billion to the victims’ families for spreading lies? Such a shame.

While we’re at it, it’s obviously a good idea to abolish the FBI (especially if it digs up dirt on conservative leaders.) While we’re at it, why not the CIA too? Who needs global intelligence when you have America First?

I was also floored when I saw a user try to compare the refusal of a company to serve Ye to a civil rights violation. Ye was reportedly dropped by JPMorgan Chase, but not because of his recent comments. Well-known conservative Candace Owens (who is still somehow on Twitter) tweeted that the breakup was actually planned:

Parler users also push the false narrative that the U.S. is “communist,” despite being anything but. If it were, people openly criticizing the government would quietly disappear.

And who can forget the awesome healthcare advice from people who use ideology in place of science?

There’s a solid line between “free speech” and “hate”

Anyways, Parler told me to speak freely, so I did. However, spending even 10 minutes at a time on Parler is like standing in acidic water — it’s highly irritating, and you can’t wait to get out.

I’m not naive to society — I know there’s intolerance on both sides of the spectrum. I am left-of-center, but I don’t take every liberal statement at face value. It’s healthy to question information, as this is part of critical thinking.

But when you automatically wage war on anything said by a “progressive” without consideration, it’s not really helping anyone. It’s just continuing the cycle of hate without adopting solutions.

It’s true that these “free speech” platforms, including Truth Social (which I may check out next), let people say what they want. But many times, this ends up allowing misguided, hateful statements. I agree that censorship is generally not good for human expression, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of marginalized groups that get attacked by “free speech” warriors.

Come for the boobs, stay for the lib bashing. Parler.com

Listen, I’m not saying you need to be a “liberal” to speak your mind. But no matter your political stripe, bullshit should be separated from banter. Unfortunately, many have discovered that hate and misinformation sell. (Of course, there’s also a Parler store where you can buy shirts and other items with messages like “I WILL NOT BE CANCELED”.)

I’m not sure if I want to continue with Parler, as I’ve seen enough. But now part of me wants to post some pro-liberal content there to see how quickly my “free speech” is ripped to shreds.

Should I continue on Parler? Let me know!