Readers 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.
Even the email service we're using to send you this message (Mailchimp) is a point of vulnerability for us. Mailchimp recently updated their terms of service to say they will permanently ban accounts that distribute false or misleading information. How fairly do you think we'll be judged on that policy? Without new legislation to protect our rights, our days on this platform-just like the rest-are numbered.
Again, this is not hyperbole. Left-run Big Tech companies are selectively enforcing their policies to silence political opposition on a grand scale. They're doing it blatantly, right out in the open. And they're doing it with impunity. It doesn't end with Trump and Parler-it begins with them. Anyone who tells you otherwise is naive.
When we first launched our subscription service, the primary reason we gave for supporting us was to help us reduce our dependence on Big Tech. That hasn't changed. In fact, as Big Tech has become more tyrannical, the need for independent financial support has only increased.
Thanks to you-our paid subscribers-we're in a much stronger position than we would be otherwise. The more subscribers we have, the less we have to worry about our dependence on Big Tech.
So what more can you do to help?
If you'd like to increase your impact, please consider upgrading to a bundle subscription that includes full access to all three of our sites: The Babylon Bee, Not the Bee, and Disrn.
All you have to do is log in and you’ll see a banner on your dashboard promoting the bundle upgrade. Click on that banner to complete the process.
I also want to make you aware that we've built our own social network on the backend of Not the Bee, so we'd love to see you upgrade and join us there. It's not free, but no social network is. If they aren't charging you up front, it's only because they're selling your personal information to the highest bidder. Paying a membership fee is a small price to pay for a premium social experience that doesn't exploit your data.
From our whole team, thank you for your loyal readership and financial support. You guys truly are the lifeblood of the Bee.
Seth Dillon
CEO
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