Alt-tech

Alt-tech refers to a collection of websites, online services, and digital platforms that present themselves as alternatives to mainstream technology companies, particularly those in Silicon Valley. These alternative platforms often market themselves as champions of free speech and uncensored expression, frequently attracting users who feel marginalized or deplatformed from larger social media networks due to violations of their terms of service regarding content moderation.

The motivations behind creating and using alt-tech platforms are varied but generally revolve around perceived biases or censorship within mainstream platforms. This perceived bias is often characterized as being against conservative or right-leaning viewpoints, although alt-tech platforms also attract individuals with a diverse range of perspectives who are concerned about issues like data privacy and corporate control over online discourse.

The content hosted on alt-tech platforms can range from mainstream discussion to extremist viewpoints, hate speech, and misinformation. While many alt-tech platforms claim to adhere to free speech principles, the practical implementation of these principles often varies, and some platforms may have their own internal content moderation policies. The lack of stringent content moderation, compared to mainstream platforms, is a defining characteristic and a major draw for certain users, while also a point of criticism due to the potential for harmful content to proliferate.

Challenges faced by alt-tech platforms include difficulty attracting a large user base, limited financial resources, vulnerability to DDoS attacks, and difficulties securing essential services like web hosting and payment processing. Mainstream technology companies and service providers sometimes decline to work with alt-tech platforms due to concerns about the content they host and the potential for reputational damage.

The term "alt-tech" is often used with a degree of loaded language, with proponents viewing these platforms as necessary alternatives to perceived corporate censorship, while critics characterize them as echo chambers for extremist views and misinformation. The term itself is often debated, with some platforms rejecting the label altogether.