The recent downfall of Parler has been swift and surprising, with the social media platform going from nearly 13 million users in early 2020 to an almost complete shutdown just one year later. It had been hailed as a haven for conservative voices in a landscape dominated by more liberal platforms like Twitter, but its sudden demise has been shocking.

Parler had attracted a large following of individuals concerned about censorship of their views on other platforms. Unfortunately this freedom of expression lacked moderation or curation, leading to potential online harassment and threats from some users. After months of controversy, Amazon Web Services removed their services from Parler in January 2021. Without access to the tech infrastructure needed to keep the site running, the platform went dark.

The downfall of Parler highlights the importance of moderation and curation on social media sites. While it can be difficult to monitor and manage user interactions, thoughtful and appropriate policies are essential to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all users. Parler's failure to do so was ultimately its undoing, and serves as an example of the consequences that come with de-prioritizing moderation.