Examine individual changes

'{{Infobox Website | name = Gab | logo = Gab.ai_Logo_-_Gabby_the_frog.gif | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = <!-- or: | logocaption = --> | screenshot = | collapsible = <!-- set as "on", "y", etc, otherwise omit/leave blank --> | collapsetext = <!-- collapsible area's heading (default "Screenshot"); omit/leave blank if collapsible not set --> | background = <!-- for collapsetext heading; default grey (gainsboro) --> | screenshot_size = | screenshot_alt = | slogan = Free Speech for Everyone <ref name="whois"/> | commercial = <!-- "Yes", "No" or leave blank --> | type = [[Social networking service]] | caption = Screenshot of Gab posts | industry = [[Internet]] | url = {{URL|gab.ai}} | registration = Required | language = [[English language|English]] | location_city = [[San Mateo, California|San Mateo]], [[California]] | location_country = [[United States]]<ref name="whois"/> | programming_language = [[PHP]] | owner = Gab AI, Inc. | author = <!-- or: creator / authors / creators --> | editor = <!-- or: | editors = --> | num_users = 150,000<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/tech/2017/02/09/twitter-suspends-account-of-free-speech-competitor-gab/ Twitter suspends account of free-speech competitor Gab], Breitbart News, February 9, 2017.</ref> | launch date = {{start date and age|August 15, 2016}} (beta)<ref>{{cite web|date=2016-08-23|accessdate=2016-08-25|url=http://www.breitbart.com/tech/2016/08/23/meet-the-ceo-of-gab-the-free-speech-alternative-to-twitter|title=Meet the CEO of Gab, The Free Speech Alternative to Twitter|author=Charlie Nash}}</ref> | revenue = | alexa = <!-- {{increase}} {{steady}} {{decrease}} [http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/example.com ##] (US/Global MM/YYYY) --> | current_status = Active (in beta) }} '''Gab''' is a [[San Mateo, California|San Mateo]], [[California]]-based<ref name="whois">{{Cite web|url=https://whois.domaintools.com/gab.ai|title=Gab.ai WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info - DomainTools|website=whois.domaintools.com|access-date=2016-12-05}}</ref> [[social networking service]] that allows its users, called '''Gabbers,''' to read and write short messages of up to 300 [[Character (computing)|characters]] called '''gabs'''. The site also offers limited multimedia functionality. Gab describes its mission as "to put people and free speech first" by limiting censorship to filtering options made available to '''Gabbers'''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://gab.ai/about/guidelines|title=Guidelines. {{!}} Gab|website=gab.ai|access-date=2016-12-03}}</ref> Currently, Gab is only accessible to registered users, who must obtain an invitation to join.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2016/11/29/banned-from-twitter-this-site-promises-you-can-say-whatever-you-want/|title=Banned from Twitter? This site promises you can say whatever you want.|last=Ohlheiser|first=Abby|date=2016-11-29|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|access-date=2016-12-03}}</ref> ==History== Gab was created in August 2016<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/nov/17/gab-alt-right-social-media-twitter|title=Gab: alt-right's social media alternative attracts users banned from Twitter|last=Wilson|first=Jason|date=2016-11-17|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2016-12-03}}</ref> as an alternative to social networks like [[Facebook]] and [[Twitter]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexkantrowitz/new-social-network-gab-growing-fast-free-speech|title=This New Social Network Promises Almost-Total Free Speech To Its Users|newspaper=BuzzFeed|access-date=2016-12-03}}</ref> Founder and CEO Andrew Torba cited dissatisfaction with "the entirely left-leaning Big Social monopoly"<ref name=":1" /> as part of the inspiration for Gab, which he created "after reading reports that Facebook employees suppress conservative articles".<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/30/arts/the-far-right-has-a-new-digital-safe-space.html|title=The Far Right Has a New Digital Safe Space|last=Hess|first=Amanda|date=2016-11-30|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-12-03}}</ref> Torba said in November that the site's user base had expanded significantly following censorship controversies involving major social media companies,<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/11/28/as-twitter-cracks-down-on-alt-right-aggrieved-members-flee-to-gab.html|title=As Twitter cracks down on alt-right, aggrieved members flee to 'Gab'|last=Shaw|first=Adam|date=2016-11-28|newspaper=Fox News|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-03}}</ref> including the permanent suspensions from Twitter of several prominent conservative and "[[alt-right]]" accounts.<ref name=":4" /> As of December 2016, the service was still in beta and invitation-only,<ref name=":4" /> and submitting an email address placed the user on a waiting list.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/16/gab-social-site-alt-right-haven/|title=New social site Gab is getting popular with the 'alt-right'|website=Engadget|access-date=2016-12-03}}</ref> ==Design== Gab's color theme is a minimalist combination of black text on white panels with pink [[hashtag]]s and usernames. The interface "behaves like a Twitter-[[Reddit]] hybrid",<ref name=":4" /> displaying messages in a Twitter-like vertically-scrolling timeline format with a Reddit-like option to [[Like button|upvote]] or downvote each post. The site also aggregates popular posts and trending topic hashtags.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/2016/09/gab-alt-rights-twitter-ultimate-filter-bubble/|title=Gab, the Alt-Right’s Very Own Twitter, Is The Ultimate Filter Bubble|last=Ellis|first=Emma Grey|newspaper=WIRED|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-03}}</ref> When writing a gab, Gabbers can post up to 300 [[Character (computing)|characters]] of plain text.<ref name=":3" /> Additional functionality is similar to Twitter, using # to create [[hashtag]]s and @ to reference other users by [[User (computing)|username]]. Gabs can embed some multimedia, currently limited to [[emoji]] and [[Giphy]] [[GIF#Animated GIF|animated GIFs]]. In addition, [[hyperlink]]s can be embedded, with some content such as [[YouTube]] videos displaying a thumbnail preview. Each Gab account can optionally be linked to a Twitter account for cross-posting, which can be enabled or disabled before a gab is published. When enabled, the gab is tweeted up to around the first 100 characters, along with a link to the gab. A frog named "Gabby"<ref name=":5" /> is the current [[logo]] of Gab and has been in use since the website's launch. == Controversy == The site has drawn criticism for providing a platform for users banned from other services,<ref name=":4" /> including [[Breitbart News|Breitbart]] writer [[Milo Yiannopoulos|Milo Yiannopolous]], <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2016/11/22/tila-tequilas-twitter-account-suspended-after-appearance-at-white-nationalist-convention/|title=Tila Tequila’s Twitter account suspended after appearance at white nationalist convention|last=Heil|first=Emily|date=2016-11-22|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|access-date=2016-12-05}}</ref> [[Tila Tequila]],<ref name=":3" /> and [[White nationalism|white nationalists]] such as [[Richard B. Spencer]]<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" /> and "Ricky Vaughn",<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> as well as for not explicitly prohibiting [[hate speech]].<ref name=":6" /> The only restrictions on expression on the site are on threats of violence, promotion of terrorism, illegal pornography and [[doxing]].<ref name=":0" /> Although Torba states that the choice of a frog logo was inspired by Bible verses ([[wikisource:Bible_(King_James)/Exodus#8:1|Exodus 8:1-8:12]] and [[wikisource:Bible_(King_James)/Psalms#78:45|Psalms 78:45]]) and various other traditional [[Frogs in culture|symbolic]] meanings, it quickly drew comparisons to [[Pepe the Frog]], an [[internet meme]] popular with the [[Alt-Right]].<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2016/11/05/inside-the-twitter-for-racists-gab-the-site-where-milo-yiannopoulos-goes-to-troll-now/|title=Inside the "Twitter for racists": Gab — the site where Milo Yiannopoulos goes to troll now|last=Benson|first=Thor|website=Salon|access-date=2016-12-03}}</ref> He denies that Gab is "designed specifically for conservatives"<ref name=":3" /> and has stated that "we welcome everyone and always will".<ref name=":2" /> Torba also says that "We want everyone to feel safe on Gab, but we’re not going to police what is hate speech and what isn't."<ref name=":6" /> ==References== {{reflist|30em}} ==External links== *{{official website|gab.ai}} [[Category:American brands]] [[Category:Internet companies of the United States]] [[Category:Microblogging]] [[Category:Proprietary cross-platform software]] [[Category:Real-time web]] [[Category:Social media]] [[Category:Social networking services]] [[Category:Social networking websites]] [[Category:Multilingual websites]] [[Category:Alt-right]] [[Category:Internet properties established in 2016]]'