Friends of The Bee,
Big Tech censorship is not a myth or right-wing talking point. It's always been real, and it's always been a threat. As a conservative site that often takes aim at liberal targets, we've felt vulnerable to censorship for quite some time—especially since we depend on Facebook and Twitter for traffic (and Google for ad revenue). Several suspensions, policy violation notices, and threats of demonetization have validated our concerns.
But the rise of alternative platforms brought some hope. Parler, for example, promised to be a place where conservatives would always be welcome. We took some comfort in that, and began growing a following there. As of this past weekend, we had amassed 1.2 million followers on Parler.
Then came the incident at the Capitol, after which Trump was banned from social media and Parler became a scapegoat. Apple and Google removed the top-ranked Parler app from their stores and Amazon pulled the plug on Parler's servers, instantly cutting The Babylon Bee's access to our largest social media audience. And Parler can't easily set up shop somewhere else. Amazon offers services that are hard to replace, and so far every company Parler has turned to has declined to host their platform.
It is not hyperbole when we say this is a big deal. It's huge. We are heading in a bad direction, and we're heading there at lightning speed. Parler did nothing but host a site where conservatives congregate and speak freely. If that's beyond the pale, no conservative sites are safe.
The internet is quickly becoming a very different place, and one that is more hostile than ever to our freedom of speech and thought. But we can forge our own path in it -- together. I’m sending you this email to invite you to join the Babylon Bee as a subscriber, and to help us preserve a place online where humor, community, and free thought are upheld and cherished.
I hope you’ll click here now to get started.
