Trumps “Truth Social”-app fiasco infographic
Graphic explains the problems with “Truth Social”.
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TECH

Het debacle van Donald Trumps social network-app

By Ninian Carter

April 6, 2022 - Donald Trump’s social media app, Truth Social, which has been plagued by technical difficulties, is getting so few downloads that it has dropped off App Store charts and led to the resignations of three executives.

After being kicked off Twitter because of comments he made that could risk further incitement of violence following the Capitol riots, Donald Trump claimed he would set up a rival technology company to “... stand up to the tyranny of big tech”.

That company, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), was born a month later in February 2021.

In October that year, TMTG announced it had entered into a definitive merger agreement with Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC) – a shell corporation – and that they would create a new social media app, Truth Social.

The app, a Twitter look-alike where posts are called “truths”, launched on Presidents’ Day, February 21, 2022, but six weeks later it is beset by problems, including a waiting list of nearly 1.5 million people who are unable to use it.

The shambolic app launch, which is currently only available in the U.S. Apple App Store (thus omitting more that 40% of Americans who use Android devices), has seen it's popularity crash by 95% since launch, so-much-so that it's dropped out of the top 100 apps chart.

In recent days, the chiefs of technology, product development and legal affairs have all resigned, adding to the turmoil.

Ironically, Trump hasn’t posted to his own app in weeks.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 06/04/2022; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Getty Images
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