Following President Donald Trump’s removal from major social media networks, a significant increase in users is being observed on smaller, more conservative social platforms, even as these platforms face restricted access from the app stores of leading technology companies.

The social network Parler, designed with functionality similar to Twitter, has risen to the top of Apple’s app store rankings, while Gab, another service with a conservative orientation, reports a substantial surge in registrations to its web platform.

Parler’s rapidly growing user base arrives at a potentially critical juncture for the company. It has already been removed from the Google Play Store, and Apple is contemplating suspending the social media application unless it implements enhanced content moderation practices.

Both Parler and Gab present themselves as strongholds for unrestricted expression, featuring notably lenient content moderation policies. Previously, these two companies have allowed the presence of content originating from a suspected Russian disinformation effort, and permit the sharing of conspiracy theories that have been removed from other social media sites.

These services operate on the principle that users are responsible for managing their experience by muting or blocking unwanted or offensive content. However, individuals joining these platforms typically find themselves interacting with others who share similar viewpoints.

While user numbers are currently increasing, potential new users may soon encounter difficulties in locating these services.

Google announced on Friday evening that it would immediately remove Parler from its Play Store – a suspension that will remain in effect until the developers establish a moderation and enforcement system capable of addressing objectionable content on the platform.

In a statement provided to TechCrunch, a Google representative explained:

On Friday, Buzzfeed News reported that Parler had received notification from Apple stating the app would be removed from the App Store within 24 hours unless the company submitted an update outlining a plan for content moderation improvements. Parler CEO John Matze verified Apple’s action in a post on his Parler account, sharing a screenshot of the notification received from Apple.

“We want to emphasize that Parler is accountable for all user-generated content on your service and for ensuring this content adheres to App Store guidelines regarding the safety and well-being of our users,” the screenshot text states. “We will not distribute apps that feature dangerous or harmful content.”

According to a November report in The Wall Street Journal, Parler is financially supported by conservative billionaire Rebekah Mercer. Established in 2018, the service has experienced increases in user activity coinciding with disagreements between mainstream social media companies and the departing President Trump. The Journal reported that Parler had approximately 10 million users in November.

Notable users include Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo and conservative talk show host Dan Bongino, a popular personality on Facebook who is also an investor in Parler. Bongino described the company as “a collective rebuke to the tech overlords” in the Journal article.

It is important to note that Parler and Gab are not the only companies witnessing growth in user numbers following the Trump bans. MeWe Network, OANN, Newsmax and Rumble have also experienced increased adoption, as indicated by data from the analytics firm Apptopia.

The company observed that Parler held the #1 position on the iOS app store for two days, climbing from 18th place on Thursday and 592nd on Wednesday. In 2020, the app was the 10th most downloaded social media application, with 8.1 million new installations.

“However, it is an event-driven application,” a company analyst pointed out. “We observe surges in downloads and usage following events such as the election, BLM protests, and Twitter’s initial labeling of President Trump’s Tweets, but activity then tends to decline.”

Sarah Perez and Lucas Matney contributed additional reporting to this article.