Rich conservatives fund new media universe

Many of the new, conservative apps haven't grown to the point where they can meaningfully rival companies like TikTok or Instagram, but collectively, they have begun to create a new environment for conservative voices. A new Pew Research Center study found that 15% of users of alternative social networks like Getty, Telegram, and Truth Social have been banned from at least one mainstream platform. In August 2022, following the FBI's execution of a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago, downloads across 10 alternative apps hit nearly 1 million collectively. The creation of a new conservative media reality began to ramp up in the wake of the content moderation crackdown following the 2021 Capitol siege. A majority of alternate social media users, per the same Pew Research Center report, say they feel a sense of community on alternate sites and are generally satisfied with their new experience. In the future, alternative platforms could begin to draw in other communities that also feel disenchanted by mainstream media and tech. In addition to social networks, an entire economy has grown around conservative ideals and free speech absolutism, although not all companies are finding success.