Bobby Burack
Over the next four years, the biggest story will not be Joe Biden’s presidency, Russia, or China — it will be Big Tech’s power, influence, and biases. Big Tech leaders Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter dictate entertainment, corporate America and, increasingly, the knowledge of Americans. Readers and viewers can know only what they have access to, and Big Tech now decides what they see and view online.
Decision-makers residing in Silicon Valley have taken a clear, leftward political interest that’s beyond the ones in Hollywood and sports. As a result, a number of independent minds have created accounts on Parler, a free-speech alternative to Twitter and Facebook. Among them is Dan Bongino, who is a part-owner of the social media platform.
Of late, Parler has seen spikes in downloads, despite most commentators and politicians using it as a complement to, not a substitution for, Twitter and Facebook. That will soon change with Mark Levin. In a matter of hours, Levin will leave Facebook for Parler, and he’s encouraging his followers to move with him.
Over 4.2 million of you are following me on Parler now. It can’t be that hard to sign on. I hope the rest of you folks will join us. In a matter of hours I’ll be leaving corrupt Facebook, and you should too. I’ll also remain on Twitter for now, as it has not censored my posts. I guess I’m one of the few. But I’m not confident it won’t happen. We shall see. But do join us here at Parler.
— Mark Levin Marklevinshow Tuesday, December 29, 2020
The follower count is key. Levin has 4.2 million followers on Parler, which is more than his 2.8 million on Twitter or 1.6 million on Facebook. While Twitter and Facebook have more accounts, Parler’s users are highly engaged and responsive. To figures like Levin, engagement and monetization are of much greater importance than the raw number of accounts a platform reaches.
Levin’s decision to migrate to Parler is perhaps Parler’s biggest endorsement yet. Levin’s radio show is among the top five most listened to broadcasts nationwide. He has a strong digital following with his radio show’s podcast and digital show on The Blaze. He also hosts a Sunday night show on Fox News — Life, Liberty, and Levin — which often leads cable news that day. His reach spreads across all forms of media.
Should President Donald Trump eventually join or move to Parler, the platform will no longer be ignored by the news outlets that cover Trump’s every word, and Trump’s news-making persona will not change once he leaves the White House.
Parler may also be Trump’s best option to continue headline domination, a quest explained in Bill O’Reilly’s book The United States of Trump. The president’s future on Twitter is precarious at best. Twitter has said that, once Trump leaves office on Jan. 20, he will be subject to different Twitter rules.
A domino effect could soon be underway, and it will likely extend beyond Parler. Rumble, the Parler-like alternative to YouTube, is quickly gaining traction. Several top conservative hosts use YouTube to air their podcasts, including Ben Shapiro, Dan Bongino (who also airs his show on Rumble, where he’s a part-owner), and Steven Crowder. YouTube isn’t going away, but hosts who feel censored on YouTube can quickly redirect viewers by promoting Rumble links instead.
Recently, Newsmax TV, The First TV, and OANN added their alternative brands to Rumble’s distribution.
Personalities with followings have learned they no longer need networks to survive. Individuals like Mark Levin are their own brand. They may even determine soon that they don’t need to rely on leading Big Tech platforms for distribution.
Follow Bobby Burack, OutKick, and Clay Travis now on Parler.
Mark my words. Big tech and especially Google will start censoring traffic to websites and servers the next 5 years.
You are right. Big Tech is going to make sure people who want to visit Parler, Rumble, and any other website that is competitive, have a hard time doing so. Silicon Valley, like most financially dominant industries, dreams of monopolies rather than protecting the free market.
You are absolutely correct. Either these monopolies need to be taken down, an alternative ecosystem needs to develop, or we give in to wholesale censorship of the major avenues of communication.
Off course they already do for CCP
The next five YEARS?
If Biden gets in, it’ll be then next five MONTHS…
Or the next 5 days…
Parler is great.
So…when will Outkick say to hell with Facebook and Twitter and move to Parler??? Why do you all give your business to companies that hate you and your supporters?
Exactly.. Chief Chick.
The rest of us have moved on… why not Outkick?
Amen
“Over the next four years, the biggest story will not be Joe Biden’s presidency,” because in the next two weeks, Trump will pull off his landslide victory!!
Can’t believe this ain’t the biggest story EVERY DAY…
Just as he is/was regarding the Covid hoax, Clay should be ALL OVER THIS!!
Clay: you OWE Donald Trump: He gave you TWO interviews recently and JWhit, one, at the White House!!
When is Outkick moving?
This article is already banned on Facebook by the evil shitbag Zuckster and his Politifake Nazis. I tried sharing it and was blocked.
I don’t disagree in terms of our day to day life but make no mistake the gains China will make during the next 4 years cannot be discounted. I also don’t think Big Tech and China aren’t different. I think they work hand in hand. I’m not foolish enough to think everyone associated with Big Tech is necessarily a left wing radical especially the decision makers in the board rooms. What I do think is that Big Tech is heavily vested in China. Almost every major news outlet/network is tied to China financial in some way. The news networks are heavily vested in China.
Conservatives on Parler are OK but want to see more sports, tech and other disciplines also.
I’ve left all social media aside from MeWe which is where my family connects. Life’s better without it. I’d recommend it to everyone. Live instead of posting and see your happiness increase.
MeWe is a massively Chinese outfit, isn’t it? When I was in China last year, everyone used it, including for commerce.
Nope, but nice try. All you have to do is search it on DuckDuckGo. Not sure it will be all that great for Conservatives but I guess we will see.
Other than Outkick I left all other social media months ago and haven’t missed it.
I will be deleting my FB account as a New Years resolution, not that I use it much anyhow. I would like to see Outkick on Parlor as well.
Hey Bobby…thanks for spotlighting this trend…here’s hoping!!!