PM Modi Joins Truth Social: Here’s What You Need To Know About Trump’s Right-Leaning Social Media Platform
Prime Minister Modi joins Truth Social, Donald Trump's social media platform which attracts conservative users.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has officially joined Truth Social, the social media platform launched by former US President Donald Trump in 2022. The move signals Modi’s growing engagement with global digital platforms and comes amid efforts to expand his outreach to international audiences particularly coming the day after his podcast with Lex Fridman.
What Is Truth Social?
Truth Social was launched in February 2022 by Trump’s Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) as an alternative to mainstream social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). The platform was created in response to Trump’s ban from major social networks such as Facebook and Twitter following the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.
While Trump has since been reinstated on X and Facebook, he continues to primarily engage with his supporters on Truth Social. The platform is designed to promote what it calls “free speech” and has largely attracted conservative and right-leaning users in the United States.
How Does It Work?
Truth Social functions similarly to X, with users able to post “Truths” (equivalent to tweets), “ReTruth” (similar to retweets), like, and comment on posts. The platform has a purple colour scheme and includes a “For You” section for recommended content. Advertisements on the platform are referred to as “Sponsored Truths.”
Unlike mainstream social media platforms, Truth Social requires users to be at least 18 years old to sign up, and they must provide both an email and phone number for verification. The platform has also been criticised for its lax content moderation policies, with reports of hate speech and extremism being prevalent, news agency AP reported.
How Popular Is Truth Social?
Despite its high-profile backing, Truth Social has struggled to expand beyond its core conservative user base. According to Similarweb, the platform had around 5 million monthly visits in February 2024, a stark contrast to Facebook’s 3 billion monthly active users.
The platform's success largely depends on Trump’s political influence. A 2022 Pew Research Center survey found that while 27% of Americans had heard of Truth Social, only 2% used it for news.
Truth Social Spiralling Down After Trump’s Return To US Presidency?
Recently, Truth Social has been facing significant financial challenges, with its parent company, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), seeing its stock price plummet by more than 40% since Trump's inauguration in January. The decline mirrors a similar downturn in Tesla’s stock, which has dropped by 45% over the same period.
TMTG, which merged with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in early 2024, initially saw its shares surge during Joe Biden’s presidency. However, the stock has since been on a rollercoaster ride, peaking during the 2024 U.S. presidential elections as Trump was predicted to win the election before crashing again after Trump assumed office, CNN reported.
A recent earnings report from TMTG painted a bleak picture, revealing a staggering $400 million loss in 2024, while generating only $3.6 million in revenue, AP reported.
According to Futurism, analysts suggest that the company’s valuation is less reflective of its actual business performance and more indicative of Trump’s political trajectory. Amid these financial woes, Trump and key insiders have reportedly benefited from lucrative compensation packages. Some high-ranking executives allegedly began offloading their stocks last summer, as per reports by Reuters and Forbes, raising concerns about the long-term viability of the venture.
Beyond the stock market turmoil, Trump Media & Technology Group is grappling with multiple lawsuits and allegations of mismanagement, further escalating the situation.
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