Parler, the social media platform popular among conservatives that was shut down earlier this year, is planning a comeback in 2024.
The company was acquired Friday by PDS Partners, a limited liability company owned by Parler’s former chief marketing officer, Elise Rhodes-Pierotti, and Ryan Rhodes, among others. They expect to relaunch the platform in the first quarter of next year, Rhodes-Pierotti told The Hill.
Rhodes-Pierotti plans to return as chief marketing officer, while Rhodes is taking over as Parler’s CEO. The pair will be joined by anti-human trafficking activist Jaco Booyens, who will serve as chief strategy officer.
“The relaunch of Parler marks a renewed commitment to its original vision — an open marketplace for all,” Rhodes-Pierotti said in a statement.
“Powered by cutting-edge technology on a hyper-scaled private cloud, we’re dedicated to introducing new features as we roll out, aiming to fill the gap in the market for competitive apps with next-generation technology,” she added.
Parler was previously acquired in April by digital media company Starboard, which pulled the social media platform in order to “undergo a strategic assessment.”
“No reasonable person believes that a Twitter clone just for conservatives is a viable business any more,” the company said of its decision at the time.
Starboard did not respond to a request for comment about the recent change in ownership.
Parler has struggled to regain its footing since it was booted from Apple and Google’s app stores and had its site pulled by Amazon Web Services shortly after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol.
The tech giants all pointed to an increase in violent rhetoric on the platform and a lack of sufficient content moderation.
The site later returned online with a new web host and was restored to the app stores but failed to regain momentum.
Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, briefly made a push to buy Parler last fall, but the two sides “mutually agreed” to terminate the intent of sale in November 2022.
Updated 8:29 p.m. ET Dec. 21