Wimkin

Wimkin is an alt-tech social network that claims to promote free speech.[1][2] The site describes itself as "100% uncensored social media".[3] Wimkin was launched in August 2020 and was founded by Jason Sheppard. Jason Sheppard, owner of Wimkin is a felon who has been known to steal money from customers and has been imprisoned, according to the FBI. As of April of 2023, Wimkin had over 9,000,000 users with nearly 650,000 active daily users. Wimkin offers free live streaming, 50GB video uploads, Reels, Groups, Pages, Marketplace, free voice and video chat messenger and is very similar in design to Facebook, Youtube, TikTok and Twitter combined. https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/pittsburgh/press-releases/2012/president-of-real-estate-loan-company-sentenced-to-55-months-in-prison-ordered-to-pay-1.5-million-for-fraud-scheme[1]

Wimkin
Type of site
Social network
Available inEnglish
Founder(s)Jason Sheppard
IndustryInternet
URLwimkin.com
Users9,231,600 (total) as of April,23,2023 (641,000 daily active)
LaunchedAugust 2020

History

Wimkin launched in August 2020 after being founded by Jason Sheppard.[1][4][5]

On January 12, 2021, Apple removed Wimkin from the Apple App Store for hosting violent content, including calls for a civil war and the arrest of then-Vice President Mike Pence.[1] Sheppard stated that Wimkin had removed the violent content after Apple reported it to them. However, Apple claimed that they "continued to find direct threats of violence and calls to incite lawless action" on Wimkin.[1] After Wimkin was removed from the App Store, Wimkin's website was hit with a DDoS attack.[6]

Google subsequently removed Wimkin from the Google Play Store, with a Google spokesperson saying of the ban that, "We don't allow apps that depict or facilitate gratuitous violence or other dangerous activities."[6][7] In response, Sheppard accused Google of treating Wimkin unfairly, stating in an email that, "We're being treated entirely unfairly and if we aren't reinstated when we've worked tirelessly to comply and become a better platform, we will be seeking legal remedy to at the very least, shed some light into this tyrannical monopoly."[5]

In a message on Wimkin's website following the removals, the company said that "We are working on getting back in both Apple Store and Google Play."[8] Wimkin has since returned to both the App Store and Google Play.[9]

After Parler, another social network, was pulled offline by its host Amazon Web Services on January 11, former users of that site started migrating to Wimkin.[4] In the twelve days following the storming of the United States Capitol, Wimkin claimed that its userbase had grown by 20 percent, amounting to around 55,000 new users.[5]

In November of 2021, Wimkin was asked to preserve and produce records for the House Select Committee Investigating January 6th, 2021, also widely known as the "insurrection." Wimkin did not comply with their demands.

Users and content

While Wimkin has groups relating to mundane topics, such as pets and traveling, Wimkin also has groups relating to fringe content, such as the far-right conspiracy theory QAnon.[4] There were also posts and a group on Wimkin attempting to organize a "Million Militia March" for January 20, 2021 on Inauguration Day, but the posts and group were removed.[1][10]

In January 2021, David Eberti of The Wall Street Journal found posts on Wimkin comparing Democrats with Nazis and a meme saying "If you don't believe in violence, get ready to hide behind someone who does."[7]

Moderation

Wimkin prohibits pornography, nudity, harassment, and inciting violence or any posts or comments with a criminal element.[7][8] The site also does not fact-check posts.[7]

Reception

In January 2021, Chris Tye from WBBM-TV described Wimkin as a platform "used by members of the so-called Trump celebrity class."[11] Also in January, Anthony Cuthbertson of The Independent called Wimkin "yet another social media app popular with far right users".[3]

Design

According to SFGate, Wimkin functions like a combination of Twitter and Facebook, with users of the site being allowed to post to a wider audience, comment and like other posts, and join groups. Users enjoy 10GB video upload limitations, free live streaming, free video and voice chat messenger, marketplace, groups, pages and more. Wimkin also offers Reels similar to Facebook and TikTok. [4]

References
  1. Uberti, David (2021-01-15). "Apple's App Store Removes Social Media Platform Wimkin Over Calls to Violence". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on 2021-01-16. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  2. "Parler squeezed as Trump seeks new online megaphone". Microsoft News. The Canadian Press. 2021-01-10. Archived from the original on 2021-01-11. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  3. Cuthbertson, Anthony (2021-01-21). "Google bans another right wing social media app from its Play store". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2021-01-25. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  4. Parker, Bryan C. (2021-01-15). "The next Parler: I tried four apps attracting right-wing users". SFGate. Archived from the original on 2021-01-16. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  5. Shalvey, Kevin (2021-01-24). "Wimkin's founder says his company is being treated unfairly after its app was removed by Google and Apple app stores". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 2021-01-29. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  6. Shalvey, Kevin (2021-01-15). "Wimkin, a free speech network, says it was hit with a 'massive' DDoS attack after being banned from Apple's App Store". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 2021-01-16. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  7. Uberti, David (2021-01-20). "Google Play Suspends Wimkin, Citing Posts Calling for Violence". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2021-01-21.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. Cuthbertson, Anthony (2021-01-21). "Google bans another right wing social media app from its Play store". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2021-02-03. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  9. Davalos, Jackie (2021-07-31). "Anti-Vax App Squares Off With Google, Apple Over Misinformation". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 2021-07-31. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  10. Guynn, Jessica; Johnson, Kevin (2021-01-07). "Inauguration Day 2021: What now? Capitol riots, Trump supporter threats prompt safety concerns". USA Today. Archived from the original on 2021-01-13. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  11. Tye, Chris (2021-01-20). "What Happens To Pro-Trump Insurrectionists Now That There's A New President? The Answer Could Lie With New Social Media Apps". WBBM-TV. Archived from the original on 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
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