Exploring Truth Social: An Inside Look At Donald Trump's Social Media Platform

You’ve likely heard of former President Donald Trump’s mouthpiece and social media platform, Truth Social. You may have seen headlines that its stock shocked Wall Street with its much-hyped initial public offering. Or that in the week since, it has been hemorrhaging value as investors get a real sense of the company’s worth. But how many of us know what Truth Social is really like? Judging by the platform’s relatively low number of active users, I’m guessing it’s still a mystery to many Americans. So I joined Truth Social, selflessly going there so you don’t have to.

Twenty-four hours of scrolling through posts from “Truthsayers” on the two-year-old platform explained why the site is tanking. In short, partisan echo chambers are stale, musty spaces that lack the sort of oppositional views needed to make social media tick. Truth Social feels like a MAGA town hall in a ventless conference room, where an endless line of folks step up to the mic to share how the world is out to get them. The Truth Social feed I experienced was a mix of swaggering gun talk, typo-filled Bible scripture, violent Biden bashing, nonsensical conspiracy theories, and more misguided memes about Jan. 6 “hostages,” trans satanists, and murderous migrants than anyone should be subjected to in one day. Or ever.

What I didn’t see were the anodyne news posts that populate other social platforms, pushback against absurd misinformation about “tsunamis of death for the highly vaccinated!” or ads for much that wasn’t Trump-branded, Trump-adjacent, or sold by My Pillow. Social media has always been a playground for our worst instincts, but here, the madness and misinformation goes largely uncontested. Apparently not enough folks to bring in substantial revenue, according to a recent disclosure that the company had made a mere $4.1 million in revenue in 2023 on losses of more than $58 million — quickly deflating investor enthusiasm and shaving some $4 billion from the company’s valuation in the days since its IPO.

Understanding Truth Social: The User Experience

Truth Social launched in February 2022 after Trump was banned from Twitter and Facebook following the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He has since been reinstated on both platforms, though he prefers to "truth" rather than tweet on his own platform, which is still a relatively small operation. Recent estimates from Similarweb show Truth Social has roughly 5 million active monthly users, compared to X’s estimated 368 million monthly users or Facebook’s 2.9 billion. The smaller number of users translates to a rather sleepy scrolling experience.

The Content Landscape on Truth Social

On my journey through Truth Social, I encountered a barrage of content that reflects a specific political ideology. The platform's users often engage in conversations that are predominantly one-sided, lacking in diverse perspectives. This creates a space where misinformation can flourish without challenge, leading to a community that is insular and resistant to outside viewpoints. The majority of posts I saw revolved around topics that resonate with Trump supporters, such as accusations against President Biden and discussions on immigration.

Advertising and Revenue Challenges

Advertisers also like lots of users, and the platform’s ads — or lack thereof — are indicative of the challenges Truth Social has faced in finding companies willing to spend on Trump’s platform. A majority of ads, labeled “Sponsored Truth,” are for Trump-branded merchandise: a 2024 Save America “gold” card, a “California for Trump” hat, and an American flag embossed with more MAGA jargon. Many of the retailers who buy space on the platform appeal to MAGA voters with Fox News-like candor. However, as Monday’s financial disclosure showed, that niche market might not be enough to put the company in the black.

Key Takeaways from Truth Social

• Truth Social has a significantly smaller user base compared to mainstream platforms.
• The platform primarily features content aligned with Trump supporters, creating an echo chamber.
• Revenue generation remains a significant challenge, with limited advertising diversity.
• Users often encounter misinformation without challenge, impacting the quality of discourse.

In conclusion, navigating Truth Social reveals a platform that is both a reflection of its user base and a product of its political environment. While it may serve as a haven for Trump supporters, the challenges it faces in attracting a broader audience and generating revenue highlight the limitations of such niche social media platforms. As social media continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how platforms like Truth Social adapt to the changing landscape of online communication.