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 = [[Austin, Texas]] | location_country = [[United States]]<ref name="whois"/> | programming_language = [[PHP]] | owner = Gab AI, Inc. | author = <!-- or: creator / authors / creators --> | editor = <!-- or: | editors = --> | num_users = 180,500<ref>{{cite web|date=2017-05-24|accessdate=2017-05-25|url=https://gab.ai/a/posts/8106308|title=gab.ai|author=Andrew Torba}}</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 (available for open registration on May 2017) }} '''Gab''' is an [[Austin, Texas]]-based<ref name="whois">{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsBQfEZvJeY|title=Interview with Andrew Torba from Gab.ai|website=youtube.com|access-date=2017-05-22}}</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> In May 2017 registration was opened to the public after previously being invite only during the beta.<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=https://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 March 2017, 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> In April 2017, Gab announced a premium subscription service for Gab named Gab Pro. Gab Pro has a monthly option for 5.99$ a month and a yearly option for 59.99$. The subscription allows users to have private chats for up to 25 people, which was later added for all users with five users maximum and Gab Pro with 50 maximum. Messages are deleted after 24 hours. Gab Pro subscribers can also view a topic breakdown for other users, make lists of users to sort their home feed, stream on GabTV (Gab's livestreaming service), and more easily get their profile verified. Subscribers also get a "PRO" badge next to their posts. As of April 21, 2017 the subscription service had over 1,000 subscribers. <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-phE6iWmzo|title=Andrew Torba, Founder of gab.ai Interviewed by Paul Joseph Watson|date=2017-04-21|accessdate=2017-05-26}}</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> Users can sort comments and posts in a subject by time or score. 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. == Controversy == The site has drawn criticism for providing a platform for users banned or suspended 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" /> [[Richard B. Spencer]],<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" /> and the anonymous Twitter handle "[[Major_League_(film)|Ricky Vaughn]]".<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> An editorial in ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' blasted Gab for not explicitly prohibiting what it described as "[[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 [[Internet]] users and 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" /> In January 2017 Gab had a list of its donors and verified users leaked<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/new_right/comments/5opv3h/leftists_attempting_to_massban_gabai_users_from/|title=Leftists Attempting To Mass-Ban Gab.ai Users From Twitter By Using List of Donors. • r/new_right|website=reddit|language=en|access-date=2017-05-09}}</ref> to PasteBin with Andrew Torba and Utsav Sanduja either ignoring or downplaying the issue. A second list citing "possible pedophiles" was posted and removed; it is commonly believed that this second list was more of an attempt of mass-libel<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://gab.ai/mf/posts/4297382|title=Flynn on Gab|access-date=2017-05-09}}</ref>, though discussion of both lists can be found on Gab via search. Both lists have since been removed although the list of verified users still exists on [[archive.is]] however the "possible pedophiles" list is not known to be hosted anywhere else. ==References== {{reflist|30em}} ==External links== *{{official website|gab.ai}} [[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:Internet properties established in 2016]]'