Gettr facts for kids
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| Type of business | Private |
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Type of site
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Social networking service |
| Available in | Multilingual |
| Founded | 2021 |
| Headquarters | New York, U.S. |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Owner | GETTR USA, Inc |
| Founder(s) | Miles Guo |
| Chairman | Miles Guo |
| CEO | Jason Miller (2021–2023) Bing (2023 - Present) |
| Industry | Internet |
| Registration | Required |
| Users | 175,000 daily (active) as of January 2022[update] |
| Launched | July 4, 2021 |
| Current status | Online |
| Native client(s) on | iOS, Android, Web |
Gettr (pronounced "GET-ter") is a social media platform that lets people share short messages and connect with others. It's often used by conservatives in the United States. Jason Miller, who used to work for Donald Trump, started Gettr. It officially launched on July 4, 2021. The way Gettr looks and works is very similar to another social media site called Twitter.
Soon after it launched, Gettr faced some challenges. There were issues with unwanted content being posted and some high-profile accounts were briefly hacked. Journalists have also noted that some users posted harmful or hateful content on the platform.
By November 2021, Gettr reported having almost 3 million total users. About 400,000 people were using it every day. By February 2022, the company said its user count had grown to 4.5 million. A company called Sensor Tower reported that the Gettr app had been downloaded 6.5 million times worldwide from the Apple App Store and Google Play by February 2022.
Contents
Why Gettr Was Created
After an event at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, several social media sites like Twitter and Facebook stopped Donald Trump from using their platforms. They also suspended some of his supporters and others who were sharing false information. This made some American conservatives feel that big tech companies were trying to silence them.
After these bans, Trump looked for other ways to share his messages. He even started his own blog, but it didn't last long. Jason Miller, who was a senior advisor to Trump, had been talking for months about plans to create a new social network.
Gettr's Journey So Far
In June 2021, news came out that Jason Miller had left Trump's team to lead a new tech company. A test version of Gettr became available on July 1, 2021. It was added to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in mid-June. You can also use Gettr on a web browser. The platform officially launched on July 4, 2021. Miller became the CEO. He said he created the site because "People were being de-platformed" and felt that big tech companies were "trying to silence people."
Gettr is a private company. Miller said it was funded by a group of international investors. One of these investors was connected to Guo Wengui, a Chinese businessman. Guo has said he advises the platform. Some reports suggest that Gettr was actually a new version of Guo's older app, Getome.
On its first day as a test version, Gettr had thousands of users. There was some confusion about whether Donald Trump was funding the platform. However, it was reported that Trump was not joining Gettr and didn't have any financial part in it. He was still planning his own platform. On July 4, 2021, Miller announced that Gettr had "more than half a million users." Between June and July 2021, Gettr was downloaded 1.3 million times globally. Most downloads came from the United States and Brazil.
The platform was briefly hacked on its launch day. Some important Gettr accounts, including Miller's, were changed by a hacker. A few days later, a hacker was able to get almost 90,000 email addresses from the platform.
By November 2021, Gettr had nearly 3 million total users. About 400,000 users were active each day.
In December 2021, Gettr let go of its entire security and information technology teams. This included 13 staff members.
In January 2022, Gettr gained half a million new users. This happened when popular podcaster Joe Rogan joined, along with a doctor named Robert Malone. Also, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene's Twitter account was suspended, which led more people to Gettr. On January 3, 2022, Gettr gained 341,000 new users in one day. Rogan told his many followers on Twitter to join him on Gettr. By January 4, Gettr had over 540,000 new users since Rogan signed up. Gettr allows users to bring over their list of followers from Twitter.
What You See on Gettr
Content on Gettr is mostly focused on right-wing views. Journalists have reported that some extreme content, including harmful and hateful messages, has been seen on the platform. Some conservative figures like Sean Hannity and Kevin McCarthy use Gettr.
When Gettr first launched its test version, popular topics included pro-Trump slogans. There were also hashtags with racist words and false ideas about the origins of COVID-19. Soon after Gettr launched, the platform saw a lot of unwanted content. Groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) also posted propaganda, including images encouraging violence. Unlike other big social media sites, Gettr didn't have strong automatic systems to filter and remove this kind of material.
A study in August 2021 found that Gettr had "very few" ways to find spam, violent content, or other harmful images. It seemed to rely mostly on users reporting bad content. Gettr's CEO, Jason Miller, said the report was "completely wrong." He claimed Gettr uses both artificial intelligence and human reviewers to keep the platform safe.
Gettr's rules say that the platform can remove content that is "offensive, obscene, violent, harassing, threatening, abusive, illegal, or otherwise objectionable." Miller has said that Gettr is a place where people "won't be canceled." He also mentioned that their moderation system had found and removed content from "left-of-center people."
By September 2021, Brazil was Gettr's second-largest market after the United States. Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro used Gettr, and Bolsonaro himself created an account. In November 2021, Gettr gained almost 500,000 users in Brazil. Miller also stated that Gettr had over 100 moderators and used artificial intelligence to watch some content.
Gettr has also grown in European countries like France. Political figures there have created accounts on the platform.
In December 2021, Gettr permanently suspended a commentator for breaking its rules. The site faced criticism from his followers. A Gettr spokesperson said the user "violated Gettr's clearly defined terms of use."
After joining Gettr, Joe Rogan was confused about his follower count, which seemed very high. Miller explained that the number was meant to show Rogan's "true reach" by combining his Twitter and Gettr followers. Gettr has since made changes to how follower counts are shown to make them clearer.
Dealing with False Information
In September 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported that Gettr was targeted by a group trying to spread false information and government messages from China.
Addressing Threats to Officials
In July 2024, Gettr provided information about posts from a user who was threatening public officials. This happened after a legal request.
How Gettr Works
Gettr is known as a conservative social media platform. When it launched, Gettr said it was a "non-bias social network." Its goal is to "fight cancel culture, promote common sense, defend free speech, and create a true marketplace of ideas." The name "Gettr" comes from "getting together."
Gettr looks and feels very much like Twitter. Users can write posts up to 777 characters long. They can also upload images and videos up to three minutes long. Users can share other people's posts and see what topics are popular. Some users can even bring their content from Twitter to Gettr. The platform also lets users get their accounts verified. The app is rated "M" for "mature" in app stores, meaning it's suggested for people 17 and older. Miller has said that Gettr plans to add ways for users to give "tips" to others, do live videos, and make political donations.
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