Far-right Twitter alternative Parler gets new owner, but closes ‘temporarily’

After months of uncertainty Parler has a new owner. However, the social network used by supporters of the American far right was temporarily closed. The intention of the company that acquired it is to upgrade it for the purpose of restarting it, although there are no further details on this.

Parler, formerly owned by Parlement Technologies, has been acquired by a digital media firm called star board. As reported Wall Street Magazinethe social network will operate under the same umbrella as conservative information portals such as Bizpack Review And American wire news.

Details about the purchase of Parler remain secret. However, in a statement, Starboard mentioned that they expect the deal to be completed before the end of the second quarter of 2023.

Starting this Friday Parler no longer works. According to the official announcement, the platform will undergo a “strategic evaluation” with a view to restarting. However, it is not known how long it will remain closed as there are few details about its future.

Despite this, it is not surprising that the deal is being carried out right now. Particularly as the 2024 U.S. presidential election kicks off with a strong campaign in the coming months, Parler has been a platform widely used by the conservative political arc during Donald Trump’s candidacy and even during his term in office. The White house. Therefore, it is not surprising if the social network will regain popularity among supporters of the North American right.

Parler temporarily closes after being sold to a new owner

Given Starboard’s political focus, it’s hard to believe that Parler’s hypothetical relaunch is aimed at attracting a new audience. However, the phrase included in the official announcement made a lot of noise. “No reasonable person believes that a conservative Twitter clone is still a viable business.”, indicates the social network’s new parent company. It remains to be seen how the future of the platform will be reimagined.

Although Parler had a moment of popularity in the United States, never stopped being a niche offering. It was estimated to have around 250,000 monthly active users, a tiny number compared to the heavyweights in the sector (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram). However, the new owners argue that there is still value to be extracted from the social network.

“Parler’s large user base and additional strategic assets represent a huge opportunity for Starboard to further aggressively grow our publishing and media business. The Parler team has built an exceptional audience and we look forward to integrating it across all of our existing platforms,” he said. Ryan Coyne, founder and CEO of Starboard.

The truth is Parler found a new home after unsuccessful purchase by Kanye West. Recall that the rapper promised to acquire the social network in October last year, when he was kicked out of Twitter for anti-Semitic comments. But the deal eventually fell through in December due to the artist’s financial troubles after losing millions in contracts with brands like Adidas, Vogue and Balenciaga, among others.