With the recent announcement on Trump’s Truth Social partnering with Perplexity to launch an AI-powered search feature called Truth Search AI, the platform is moving into new territory in its bid to keep users engaged.
The tool uses Perplexity’s Sonar API to answer questions with cited sources, and the company says it will refine it using feedback from users. But the news also had many asking… what exactly is Truth Social, and who is using it?
Truth Social launched in February 2022 under Trump Media & Technology Group by Donald Trump. It came after his bans from Facebook and Twitter following the events of 6 January 2021.
The platform has a design similar to Twitter, with users able to post “Truths,” share “ReTruths,” follow accounts, and send direct messages. Ads appear as “sponsored truths.” It also has a feed for recommended posts and one for followed accounts. Unlike many social platforms, it requires users to be at least 18 years old, although ages are not verified.
Truth Social markets itself as a “big tent” space for different viewpoints, but studies have shown it is dominated by conservative commentary and the “Make America Great Again” base. Cornell University researcher Roxana Muenster told Associated Press that the site’s loose content moderation has allowed hate speech and extremism to spread. At the same time, reports show it has banned users who mock or criticise Trump and his allies.
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How Many People Use It?
The company does not release official user counts, but different research offers estimates. DemandSage reports over 2 million active users and 4.36 million downloads, with 84.16% of the user base in the United States. Canada accounts for 3.47% and the United Kingdom for 1.84%.
Monthly visits are around 13.5 million, according to Similarweb. That is far below Facebook’s 3.05 billion monthly active users and Twitter’s 528.3 million. Only 3% of social media users worldwide are on Truth Social.
Trump himself has 6.59 million followers on the platform, far fewer than the 87 million he has on Twitter. His presence remains the main draw for many users, but surveys show the platform’s appeal is narrow. Pew Research found only 2% of US adults use it for news, while 27% have even heard of it.
Who Is The Audience?
The audience is mainly Republican voters. Business Insider numbers showed 61% of Republicans plan to use it, compared with 7% of Democrats. Among Republicans, 27% use it often and 34% use it sometimes.
Men are more likely than women to be active, with 10% of men and 6% of women saying they often use it. Age also plays a part: just 7% of people aged 18 to 34 said they would use it often, while 66% of those over 65 are not interested at all.
Groups more likely to use Truth Social than average include Reddit users and esports fans, both at 9%. Only 6% of millennials and college graduates are on the platform.
How Does It Make Money?
Truth Social has faced financial struggles… Axios reports a loss of $49 million in the first nine months of 2023, with revenue of $3.38 million in that period. The company’s market valuation stands at about $1.42 billion, with the average share price at $36.21 in 2024.
The platform’s stock market debut brought in about $300 million. Trump is believed to own around half the company, and Forbes estimates it boosted his net worth by up to $430 million. But growth is still looking tricky, especially with advertisers avoiding platforms linked to controversial content.
