Honestly, it’s hard to find a piece of software that’s caused more arguments at the dinner table than Truth Social. You’ve probably seen the headlines. Some people call it the "free speech" promised land, while others treat it like a digital ghost town. But if you actually log on today, in 2026, the reality is a lot weirder and more complex than the talking points on TV suggest.
It started as a lifeboat. Back when Donald Trump was booted off the "Big Tech" platforms, he didn't just want a new account—he wanted his own kingdom. The result was a platform that looks almost exactly like the old Twitter (now X), right down to the layout and the way you interact with posts.
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Why Truth Social Actually Exists
Most people think Truth Social is just about posting "Truths" instead of Tweets. It's more than that. It was built as the flagship for Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG). Basically, it’s the centerpiece of a much larger business play that now includes everything from streaming to—believe it or not—nuclear fusion partnerships.
The app was born out of a specific kind of frustration. A huge chunk of the American population felt like they were walking on eggshells on mainstream social media. Whether that's true or just a perception doesn't really matter for the business model; the feeling of being silenced is what fueled the initial 8.5 million downloads.
The Technical Reality: It's Not "New" Tech
One thing most users don't realize is that Truth Social wasn't built from scratch in some secret lab. It's actually built on the bones of Mastodon.
Mastodon is an open-source project. This led to some early legal drama because TMTG didn't initially give credit to the developers, which is a big "no-no" in the coding world. Eventually, they played ball and released their source code. Here’s the breakdown of what powers the app:
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- Backend: A custom version of the Mastodon framework.
- Frontend: They use something called "Soapbox" to make it look like a traditional social feed.
- Infrastructure: They famously moved away from Big Tech servers (like Amazon or Google) to Rumble’s cloud infrastructure to prevent being "canceled" or de-platformed.
The app is snappy enough, but it lacks some of the bells and whistles you'd find on X. You won't find deep AI integration or complex spaces/communities. It’s a lean, mean, posting machine.
The 2026 Landscape: Mergers and Prediction Markets
If you haven't checked the news lately, Truth Social is trying to be much more than a place to post political rants. Late in 2025 and into early 2026, the company made some wild moves. They recently announced a merger with TAE Technologies, a company working on fusion power.
Yeah, you read that right. From social media to nuclear energy.
They also launched Truth Predict in partnership with Crypto.com. This is basically a place where you can bet on real-world events—like election results or the price of Bitcoin—right inside the app. It's a blatant attempt to compete with platforms like Polymarket.
Current User Stats
As of early 2026, Truth Social is sitting at roughly 6.3 million monthly active users. For context, that’s tiny compared to X or Instagram, but it’s a very dedicated "core" audience. It’s like a small town where everyone knows everyone—and they all agree on about 90% of things.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that the app is "unmoderated." That’s a total myth.
If you go on there and start posting illegal content or spam, you’ll be banned faster than you can say "censorship." They have to follow the rules of the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If they didn't moderate at all, the app wouldn't be allowed on your phone. They have strict rules against inciting violence and physical threats—mostly because Google forced them to tighten up those policies back in 2022.
Another weird quirk? The app is a ghost town for some but a goldmine for others. If you’re a conservative influencer, your engagement on Truth Social might be ten times higher than on X, even with a smaller follower count. The "Truth" community is incredibly active. They don't just scroll; they "ReTruth" everything.
The Business of Truth
Is it profitable? Not really. TMTG (trading under the ticker DJT) has seen some massive swings. In late 2025, reports showed the company was still losing money, with earnings declining at an average rate of about 40% annually.
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But here's the thing: Truth Social isn't being run like a normal Silicon Valley startup. Its value is tied directly to the political brand of Donald Trump. When he posts a policy update—like his recent 2026 proposal to cap credit card interest rates at 10%—the app becomes the center of the political universe for a day.
How to Actually Use Truth Social (If You're Curious)
If you're thinking about jumping in, don't expect it to be a one-to-one replacement for your other apps. It’s a niche experience.
- Set your expectations: You’re going to see a lot of political content. Like, a lot.
- Verification is easy: Unlike the nightmare that "Blue Checks" became on other platforms, getting verified here is a bit more straightforward for public figures.
- Watch the "Truths": The search function is still a bit clunky. The best way to find people is to look at who the big accounts are "ReTruthing."
- Explore the Predictions: If you’re into crypto or betting, the new Truth Predict section is where the most "non-political" action is happening right now.
Actionable Next Steps
If you are a business or a creator, you shouldn't ignore the platform entirely, but you shouldn't bet your whole career on it either.
First, go and claim your handle. Even if you don't plan on posting, you don't want someone else pretending to be you. Squatting is a real problem on smaller platforms.
Second, if you're in the "America First" or conservative niche, start cross-posting your content there. The lack of algorithm-shaming means your posts actually reach the people who follow you.
Finally, keep an eye on the DJT stock news. The app's features usually change based on how the company is performing or who they are merging with next. With the recent move into fusion energy and prediction markets, Truth Social is clearly trying to transform into a "Super App" for a very specific demographic. Whether they can pull it off without the tech infrastructure of a giant like Meta remains the multi-billion dollar question.