{{Short description|Video hosting and cloud services company}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}} {{Infobox website | name = Rumble | logo = Rumble logo 2022.svg | logo_size = | logo_alt = | screenshot = | caption = | company_type = | type = Video hosting service | traded_as = {{NASDAQ|RUM}} | founded = {{start date and age|2013|10|30}} | location = Toronto, Ontario, Canada<ref name="TStar" /><br />Longboat Key, Florida, U.S.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rumble Opens New U.S. Headquarters in Longboat Key, Florida |website=Rumble |url=https://corp.rumble.com/blog/rumble-opens-new-u-s-headquarters-in-longboat-key-florida/|date=March 2, 2023|access-date=July 25, 2024}}</ref> | area_served = Worldwide (except Brazil, China, Crimea, France, Indonesia, North Korea, and Russia)<ref name="Gazeta do Povo">{{cite news|title=Rumble anuncia saída do Brasil em protesto a censura imposta a usuários|url=https://www.gazetadopovo.com.br/vida-e-cidadania/rumble-anuncia-saida-do-brasil-em-protesto-contra-censura-imposta-a-usuarios/|last1=Freire Feitosa |first1=Diogenes|work=Gazeta do Povo|language=pt-BR|date=December 26, 2023|access-date=March 30, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Brazil Joins France, Russia, China in Banning Rumble |url=https://thearabianpost.com/brazil-joins-france-russia-china-in-banning-rumble/ |website=Arabian Post |date=September 10, 2024 |access-date=1 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Brito |first1=Ricardo |title=Brazil judge suspends Rumble platform after 'censorship' spat |work=Reuters |date=February 22, 2025 |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/brazil-supreme-court-orders-rumble-suspension-country-2025-02-22/ |publisher=Reuters |access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref> | founder = Chris Pavlovski | industry = {{ubl|Internet|Social media}} | products = Rumble Viral<br />Locals | services = Video hosting service | revenue = {{increase}} {{USD|95.5}}{{nbsp}}million (2024)<ref>{{cite web |title=Rumble Inc. (RUM) reports earnings |url=https://rumblefaq.groovehq.com/help/a-simple-explanation-of-the-differences-between-licensing-options |publisher=Quartz |access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref> | parent = Rumble Inc. | url = {{URL|https://rumble.com}} | content_license = | programming_language = | advertising = Rumble Ads | registration = {{Collapsible list | titlestyle = font-weight:normal; text-align:left; background-color:transparent; color: inherit; | title = Optional | Not required to watch most videos; required for certain tasks such as uploading videos, creating playlists, liking or disliking videos, posting comments, or making purchases }} | users = {{increase}} 67 million MAU (September 2024)<ref>{{cite web |title=Rumble reports Q3 EPS (15c), two estimates (12c) |url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/rumble-reports-q3-eps-15c-two-estimates-12c-1034003601 |website=Markets Insider |publisher=Business Insider |access-date=4 December 2024}}</ref> | launched = {{start date and age|2013|10|30}} | current_status = Active | module = {{infobox network service provider|child=yes|asn=399647}} }}
'''Rumble, Inc.''' is a Canadian-American online video platform, web hosting, and cloud services business<ref>{{cite web|title=Rumble may top Trump's Truth Social|url=https://www.axios.com/2022/04/26/rumble-trump-truth-social-spac|website=Axios.com|last=Primack|first=Dan|date=April 26, 2022|access-date=September 4, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Trump's social media venture partners with Canada's Rumble Inc|url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/trumps-social-media-venture-partners-with-canadas-rumble-2021-12-14/|work=Reuters|last=Coster |first=Helen|date=December 14, 2021|access-date=September 4, 2022}}</ref> headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with its U.S. headquarters in Longboat Key, Florida. It was founded in 2013 by Chris Pavlovski, a Canadian technology entrepreneur. Rumble's cloud services business hosts Truth Social, and the video platform is popular among American conservative and far-right users.<!-- sourced below --> Rumble has been described as "alt-tech".<!-- sourced below -->
== History ==
Rumble was founded on October 30, 2013, by Chris Pavlovski as an alternative to YouTube for independent vloggers and smaller content creators.<ref name="TStar">{{cite news|title=This Toronto-based website surged to a half-billion-dollar valuation almost overnight — thanks in part to interest from conservative American investors|url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2021/06/11/this-toronto-based-website-surged-to-a-half-billion-dollar-valuation-almost-overnight-thanks-in-part-to-interest-from-conservative-american-investors.html|work=Toronto Star|last=Lorinc|first=Jacob|date=June 11, 2021|access-date=November 8, 2022}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Can Dan Bongino Make Rumble The Right's New Platform?|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/dan-bongino-rumble|last=Silverman |first=Craig |website=BuzzFeed News|date=November 2, 2020|access-date=October 26, 2024}}</ref> Pavlovski founded the platform after seeing that Google was prioritizing influencers on YouTube and not independent content creators.<ref name="GandMail">{{cite news|title=How Rumble, a Toronto-based YouTube alternative, became a refuge for the MAGA crowd (with a US$2-billion valuation)|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-rumble-toronto-video-platform-youtube-alternative-valuation/|last1=Castaldo |first1=Joe|work=The Globe and Mail|date=January 9, 2022|access-date=November 8, 2022}}</ref> In its early years, Rumble saw only limited popularity. The platform received a large influx of viewership from 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Monthly visitors rose from 1.6 million in 2020, to 31.9 million by 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Thiel-Backed Video Platform Rumble Offers Joe Rogan $100 Million to Switch From Spotify |url=https://time.com/6145835/joe-rogan-rumble-podcast-offer/|magazine=Time|date=February 7, 2022|access-date=March 11, 2023}}</ref> In the first nine months of 2021, Rumble generated more than $6.5 million in revenue, mostly from advertisements; however, it was not profitable.<ref name=":6">{{cite news|title=Rumble, the Right's Go-To Video Site, Has Much Bigger Ambitions|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/28/business/media/rumble-social-media-conservatives-videos.html|work=The New York Times|last=Peters|first=Jeremy W.|date=March 28, 2022|access-date=March 31, 2022}}</ref>
The rise in Rumble viewership in 2020 was attributed to Republican politician Devin Nunes, who accused YouTube of overly censoring his channel. Nunes began posting content on Rumble, with other prominent conservatives, such as Dinesh D'Souza, Dan Bongino, Sean Hannity, and Representative Jim Jordan, following soon after.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":11">{{cite web|title=Meet Rumble, the YouTube rival that's popular with conservatives |url=https://fortune.com/2020/11/30/rumble-video-service-youtube-rival-popular-among-conservatives/|website=Fortune|date=November 30, 2020|access-date=January 19, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Gab Is Furious That Donald Trump Signed Up for Another Right-Wing Social Network|url=https://slate.com/technology/2021/06/donald-trump-rally-rumble-gab-parler.html|website=Slate|last=Mak|first=Aaron|date= June 29, 2021|access-date=July 1, 2021}}</ref> In June 2021, former US president Donald Trump joined Rumble in preparation for recording his Ohio campaign rally.<ref>{{cite web|title=Trump Joins Video Platform Rumble Ahead of Ohio Rally|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-joins-video-platform-rumble-ahead-ohio-rally-2021-06-26/|work=Reuters|first=Elizabeth |last=Culliford|date=June 26, 2021|access-date=June 29, 2021}}</ref>
On January 11, 2021, Rumble filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google over its search algorithms, seeking damages exceeding $2 billion.<ref name=":2">{{cite news|title=Toronto video-hosting startup Rumble Inc. sues Google over search result|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-toronto-video-hosting-startup-rumble-inc-sues-google-over-search/|work=The Globe And Mail|last=O'Kane|first=Josh|date=January 13, 2021|access-date=January 14, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Rumble, Inc. v. Google LLC |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/29096082/rumble-inc-v-google-llc/|id=4:21-cv-00229 |via=Court Listener|access-date=May 14, 2024}}</ref> Rumble alleged that Google manipulated its algorithm so as to favor Google's own YouTube over Rumble in Google search results. Rumble alleged that this direct manipulation reduced its viewership and resulted in lower advertising revenues for their company.<ref>{{cite web|title=YouTube rival Rumble sues Google over search rankings |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/youtube-rival-rumble-sues-google-over-search-rankings-11610465669|last=Schechner |first=Sam |website=Market Watch|date=January 12, 2021|access-date=February 18, 2021}}</ref> In August 2022, a California judge said that Rumble's case against Google can proceed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rumble's antitrust lawsuit against Google can proceed, says judge |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/2/23288732/rumble-antitrust-lawsuit-google-search-results-app-court-decision|last1=Robertson |first1=Adi |website=www.theverge.com|date=August 2, 2022|access-date=August 29, 2022}}</ref>
Rumble received investment from venture capitalists Peter Thiel, Vivek Ramaswamy and JD Vance in May 2021, with that round of funding valuing Rumble at around $500 million.<ref name="Vance">{{cite news |date=May 19, 2021 |title=Peter Thiel, J.D. Vance Invest in Rumble Video Platform Popular on Political Right |language=en-US |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/peter-thiel-j-d-vance-invest-in-rumble-video-platform-popular-on-political-right-11621447661|last=Hagey |first=Keach |access-date=May 21, 2021}}</ref> In October 2021, Rumble acquired Locals.<ref name="rumble-purchase">{{cite web|title=Rumble acquires Locals to help build a bigger creator economy|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rumble-acquires-locals-help-build-140000966.html|website=Yahoo News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026145614/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rumble-acquires-locals-help-build-140000966.html|archive-date=October 26, 2021|date=October 26, 2021|access-date=October 26, 2021}}</ref> On December 14, 2021, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) announced that it entered a "wide-ranging technology and cloud services agreement" with Rumble in a statement that also stated that Rumble would operate part of Truth Social as well as TMTG.<ref>{{cite news|title=Trump media company inks deal with video platform Rumble |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/585838-trump-media-company-inks-deal-with-video-platform-rumble|work=The Hill |last=Schnell |first=Mychael|date=December 14, 2021|access-date=December 14, 2021}}</ref> Also in December 2021, Rumble challenged a New York law prohibiting hate speech on social media.<ref>{{Cite news|title=New York Online Hate Speech Law Challenged by Thiel-Backed Rumble |work=Bloomberg.com|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-01/new-york-online-hate-speech-law-challenged-by-law-blog-rumble|last=Dolmetsch|first=Chris|date=December 1, 2022|access-date=June 17, 2023}}</ref>
In August 2022, Rumble announced plans to provide an online advertising platform known as Rumble Ads, with Truth Social as its first publisher.<ref>{{cite news|title=Truth Social is strapped for cash and struggling to find new users|last=Kelly |first=Makena |date=August 30, 2022 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/30/23329245/truth-social-donald-trump-google-play-store-dwac-spac|work=The Verge|access-date=September 5, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Coster |first=Helen |date=August 23, 2022 |title=Truth Social to join Rumble's advertising platform|url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/truth-social-join-rumbles-advertising-platform-2022-08-23/|work=Reuters|access-date=September 5, 2022}}</ref> Rumble became a publicly traded company in September 2022, trading under ticker RUM on the Nasdaq, after merging with a special-purpose acquisition company.<ref name="BloomTrade">{{cite news|title=Peter Thiel-Backed Video Platform Rumble Starts Trading After SPAC Deal |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-19/peter-thiel-backed-rumble-heads-to-the-public-markets-via-spac-deal|publisher=Bloomberg|last1=Chapman|first1=Lizette|date=September 19, 2022|access-date=October 9, 2022}}</ref> In May 2023, Rumble acquired the podcasting platform CallIn.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Rumble (RUM) Acquires Podcasting and Live Streaming Platform CallIn |url=https://www.streetinsider.com/Corporate+News/Rumble+%28RUM%29+Acquires+Podcasting+and+Live+Streaming+Platform+CallIn/21668069.html |website=StreetInsider.com|date=May 15, 2023|access-date=October 30, 2024}}</ref>
In 2023, Rumble was granted exclusive rights to the online stream of the Republican presidential primary debates.<ref>{{Cite web|title=RNC's livestreaming partner for the GOP debate is a haven for disinformation and extremism |date=September 25, 2023 |url=https://apnews.com/article/republican-debate-livestream-rumble-disinformation-extremism-a6e627ac88463f9f83ada062ea83c6db|website=AP News|access-date=December 7, 2023}}</ref> In 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission confirmed that Rumble was under an active investigation, the exact nature of which is unknown.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Rumble Is Part of an 'Active and Ongoing' SEC Investigation |url=https://www.wired.com/story/rumble-sec-investigation/|last=Turton |first=William|magazine=Wired|date=January 8, 2024|access-date=January 9, 2024}}</ref> However, Pavlovski stated in January "short-lived investigation was part of a coordinated ploy by short sellers manipulating the market." The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission cleared Rumble from the investigation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Howell |first=Tom |date=February 21, 2024 |title=SEC clears Rumble after reports of investigation |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/feb/21/sec-clears-rumble-after-reports-investigation/ |work=The Washington Times |language=English |quote="the short-lived investigation was part of a coordinated ploy by short sellers manipulating the market."}}</ref> In November 2024, creator Guy "Dr Disrespect" Beahm signed a deal to produce both free and exclusive content on the platform and head Rumble gaming's division. The deal included equity in the company for Beahm.<ref name=":62">{{Cite news |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=November 25, 2024 |title=Dr Disrespect moves to Rumble, will head up its Rumble Gaming category |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/software/platforms/dr-disrespect-moves-to-rumble-will-head-up-its-rumble-gaming-category/|work=PC Gamer|access-date=November 25, 2024}}</ref> Pavlovski became a billionaire in January 2025 after Rumble's stock increased in price by nearly 190 percent in 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Khan-Mullins |first=Kyle |title=Why The Founder Of The Right-Wing Video Platform Rumble Is Now A Billionaire |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kylemullins/2025/01/06/why-the-founder-of-the-right-wing-video-platform-rumble-is-now-a-billionaire/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |work=Forbes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Noonan |first=Keith |date=2025-01-11 |title=Why Rumble Stock Skyrocketed 189.8% in 2024 but Is Sinking in 2025 |url=https://www.fool.com/investing/2025/01/11/why-rumble-stock-skyrocketed-1898-in-2024-but-is-p/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=The Motley Fool |language=en}}</ref>
== Locals == {{Infobox website | name = Locals | logo = Locals.com logo.svg | founded = 2019 | owner = Rumble | url = {{url|https://locals.com}} }} '''Locals Technology Inc.''', also referred to as '''locals.com''', is a US creator crowdfunding site cofounded by conservative commentator Dave Rubin and Assaf Lev. It started in 2019 and is based in Miami. The site was founded after Rubin and Jordan Peterson left Patreon in response to its banning of Carl Benjamin for calling alt-right trolls "white n****rs" in an interview on another person's YouTube channel.<ref>{{cite news |author=Benjamin Goggin|title=Crowdfunding platform Patreon defends itself amid boycott|work=Business Insider|publisher=Business Insider|date=18 December 2018|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/patreon-crowdfunding-platform-defends-itself-amid-boycott-2018-12|access-date=6 February 2026}}</ref> The startup raised just over $1 million from 10 506(b) private placement investors in March 2020.<ref name="alle_TheA">{{Cite web |title=The AlleyWatch Startup Daily Funding Report: 4/17/2020 - AlleyWatch|author=|work=AlleyWatch|date=|access-date=11 July 2020|url=https://www.alleywatch.com/2020/04/the-alleywatch-startup-daily-funding-report-4-17-2020/}}</ref><ref name="secd0420-1">{{Cite web |title=SEC FORM D/A|author=|work=sec.gov|date=20 April 2020|access-date=11 July 2020|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1809815/000180981520000002/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml}}</ref> Locals announced further funding of $3.8 million on April 20, 2021 led by Craft Ventures.<ref name="SeedRound2">{{cite web |title=Locals.Com Raises Seed Round Empowering Independent Creators Via Its Subscription-Based Community Platform|url=https://blog.locals.com/locals-com-raises-to-empower-content-creators-to-be-independent-with-its-subscription-based-community-platform/|website=locals.com|access-date=1 July 2021}}</ref><ref name="secd0420-2">{{Cite web |title=SEC FORM D|author=|work=sec.gov|date=29 March 2020|access-date=1 July 2021|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001809815/000180981521000001/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml}}</ref>
The site deviates from the advertising and views model adopted by traditional social media, in favor of a paywall approach.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-06|title=Dave Rubin's Locals|url=https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/dave-rubin-locals-armin-rosen|access-date=2021-07-07|website=Tablet Magazine|language=en}}</ref> Assaf Lev is the President and CEO; Lev was previously an executive at QualiSystems. Andrew Conru is also a director.<ref name="alle_TheA" /><ref name="secd0420-1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=QualiSystems Expands Base of Financial, Government and Telecom Customers|author=QualiSystems|work=prnewswire.com|date=24 September 2013|access-date=11 July 2020|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/qualisystems-expands-base-of-financial-government-and-telecom-customers-225012902.html}}</ref> Locals was acquired by Rumble in October 2021.<ref name="rumble-purchase2">{{cite web |title=Rumble acquires Locals to help build a bigger creator economy|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rumble-acquires-locals-help-build-140000966.html|website=Yahoo News|access-date=26 October 2021}}</ref>
== Design and restrictions ==
Along with four other tabs in its main interface, Rumble features "recommended channels" to follow and an "Earnings" tab in its interface.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Parker |first=Bryan C. |title=The next Parler: I tried four apps attracting right-wing users |url=https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/parler-replacement-rumble-mewe-telegram-wimkin-15871616.php|date=January 15, 2021 |website=SFGate |access-date=January 16, 2021}}</ref> Rumble also allows its users to generate revenue from their videos.<ref name=":1" /> Users upload videos that are licensed to Rumble's partners, such as Yahoo! and Microsoft News, after which money made from those videos is directly deposited into the Rumble account of the user.<ref name=":1" />
According to the platform's terms and conditions, Rumble forbids pornography, harassment, racism, antisemitism, and copyright infringement.<ref>{{cite web|title=Website Terms and Conditions of Use and Agency Agreement|url=https://rumble.com/s/terms|website=Rumble (website)|access-date=July 9, 2023}}</ref> The platform also prohibits illegal content.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5">{{cite news |last=Zakrzewski |first=Cat|title=The Technology 202: YouTube alternative Rumble highlights conservatives' move to more hands-off social networks |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/11/16/technology-202-youtube-alternative-rumble-highlights-conservatives-move-more-hands-off-social-networks/ |newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 16, 2020|access-date=January 9, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Watts |first=Marina|title=What Is Rumble? The YouTube Alternative 'Where Conservative Views Won't Be Discriminated Against' |url=https://www.newsweek.com/what-rumble-youtube-alternative-where-conservative-views-wont-discriminated-against-1542141|work=Newsweek|date=October 26, 2020 |access-date=January 9, 2021}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{cite web |last1=Isaac |first1=Mike |last2=Browning |first2=Kellen |date=November 18, 2020 |title=Fact-Checked on Facebook and Twitter, Conservatives Switch Their Apps |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/11/technology/parler-rumble-newsmax.html|website=The New York Times|access-date=January 9, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Mak |first=Aaron |date=December 15, 2020 |title=Meet Rumble, the YouTube Alternative Where Trump Could Still Win |url=https://slate.com/technology/2020/12/rumble-youtube-trump-conspiracy-theories.html|website=Slate|access-date=January 9, 2021}}</ref> Rumble's policies have been criticized by other alt-tech platforms for not allowing antisemitism and racism.<ref>{{cite web|title=Donald Trump's Rumble account prompts attacks from Gab and Parler founders|url=https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-rumble-gab-parler-1604636|last=Palmer|first=Ewan|website=Newsweek|date=June 28, 2021|access-date=September 5, 2022}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{cite journal |title=Truth Social's Harsh Truth|url=https://slate.com/technology/2023/11/truth-social-donald-trump-spac-trouble-twitter-facebook.html|journal=Slate|last1=Pahwa|first1=Nitish|date=November 16, 2023|access-date=December 6, 2023}}</ref>
Rumble has built its own cloud service infrastructure and video streaming capacity.<ref name=":6" />
== Users and content ==
Rumble's video platform is popular among conservatives{{refn|<ref name="Vance" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Is Rumble, A Right-Wing Social Media Company, Already The Next Meme Stock? |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2021/12/02/rumble-spac-ipo-social-media-conservative/|last=Brown |first=Abram |website=Forbes|date=December 2, 2021|access-date=March 13, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Isaac |first1=Mike |last2=Browning |first2=Kellen |date=November 11, 2020 |title=Fact-Checked on Facebook and Twitter, Conservatives Switch Their Apps |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/11/technology/parler-rumble-newsmax.html|issn=0362-4331|access-date=March 13, 2022}}</ref>}} and far-right users,{{refn|<ref name="nytimesFarRight">{{cite news|title=The Far-Right Christian Quest for Power: 'We Are Seeing Them Emboldened'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/08/us/christian-nationalism-politicians.html |work=The New York Times|last=Dias|first=Elizabeth|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102130729/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/08/us/christian-nationalism-politicians.html |archive-date=November 2, 2022|date=July 8, 2022|access-date=September 4, 2022}}</ref><ref name="seattleTimesFarRight">{{cite news|title=Rumble, a YouTube rival popular with conservatives, will pay creators who 'challenge the status quo' |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/rumble-a-youtube-rival-popular-with-conservatives-will-pay-creators-who-challenge-the-status-quo/|work=The Seattle Times|last1=Harwell |first1=Drew|date=August 16, 2021|access-date=September 4, 2022}}</ref><ref name="politicoFarRight">{{cite news|title=Russia state media turn to Rumble to get out their word |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/24/russia-state-media-rumble-00020184|last1=Fuchs |first1=Hailey |work=Politico magazine |date=March 24, 2022|access-date=September 4, 2022}}</ref>}} and has been described as part of "alt-tech" by various observers.<ref> *{{cite news|title=Rightwingers flock to 'alt tech' networks as mainstream sites ban Trump |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/13/social-media-trump-ban-alt-tech-far-right|last=Wilson |first=Jason|work=The Guardian |date=January 13, 2021 |language=en|access-date=August 29, 2022}} *{{cite news |last1=Merril |first1=Jeremy B. |last2=Harwell |first2=Drew |title=Pro-Trump influencers flocked to alternative social networks. Their follower counts stalled soon after. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/01/20/trump-audience-stalling/|newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 20, 2022|access-date=August 29, 2022}} *{{cite news |last1=Gilbert |first1=David |title=Trump's Social Media Company Just Partnered With a QAnon Video Site |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/truth-social-partnering-with-rumble/ |work=Vice.com |date=December 15, 2021 |language=en|access-date=August 29, 2022}} *{{cite news |last1=Dalton |first1=Ben |title=The Evolution of the Tech and Fundraising Platforms for Extremists Kicked Off the Regular Internet |url=https://slate.com/technology/2022/05/alt-tech-internet-extremists-financial-ecosystem.html|work=Slate Magazine |date=May 17, 2022|access-date=August 29, 2022}}</ref>
Using data from February 2021, researchers noted that several content creators have gained a receptive audience on Rumble after their content was pulled from YouTube or Facebook. They include Del Bigtree, Sherri Tenpenny, and Simone Gold.<ref name="Rumble">{{cite news|date=March 18, 2021 |title=Where Anti-Vaccine Propaganda Went When YouTube Banned It |work=Slate |url=https://slate.com/technology/2021/03/youtube-rumble-vaccine-misinformation.html|last=Mak |first=Aaron|access-date=March 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Rumble terms and conditions |url=https://rumble.com/s/terms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210327131647/https://rumble.com/s/terms|website=Rumble|url-status=live|archive-date=March 27, 2021|access-date=March 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=May 11, 2021 |title=Rumble Sends Viewers Tumbling Toward Misinformation |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/story/rumble-sends-viewers-tumbling-toward-misinformation/ |access-date=May 11, 2021}}</ref> According to a June 2021 article from ''Slate'', "Pavlovski has recently become more outspoken in accusing Big Tech of censorship and now actively courts prominent conservatives and intellectual dark web figures to join Rumble."<ref name=":3" /> It also hosted Truth Social as of June 2022.<ref name="love2022">{{cite news |title=Politics trumps business in Truth Social's war on Big Tech |last1=Coster |first1=Helen |last2= Love |first2= Julia |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-trump-truth-social/|date=June 27, 2022|access-date=December 6, 2023}}</ref> In August 2021, Rumble reached agreements with former Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard and ''The Intercept'' founder Glenn Greenwald to start posting their videos to the site.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rumble, a YouTube rival popular with conservatives, will pay creators who 'challenge the status quo'|last=Harwell |first=Drew |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/rumble-a-youtube-rival-popular-with-conservatives-will-pay-creators-who-challenge-the-status-quo/ar-AANeDiu|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=August 12, 2021|access-date=August 12, 2021}}</ref>
As of August 15, 2022, Rumble reported 78 million monthly active users (MAU).<ref name="PR2022">{{cite press release|title=Rumble Sets New Monthly Active User Record in August Citing Growth Among 'Gen Z' Users|url=https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/22/09/n28776604/rumble-sets-new-monthly-active-user-record-in-august-citing-growth-among-gen-z-users|date=September 7, 2022|access-date=July 25, 2024}}</ref> That month, after being banned from most other platforms for hate speech and harmful conduct, kickboxer and social media personality Andrew Tate began posting on Rumble. Tate's move coincided with a significant increase in downloads of the Rumble app.<ref>{{cite news|title=How Rumble became the world's most popular video app |url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2022/08/29/andrew-tate-rumble-video-app/|last=Wilson|first=Cam|work=Crikey|date=August 29, 2022|access-date=September 5, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Elms">{{cite news |last1=Elms |first1=Victoria |title=Andrew Tate moves to anti-'cancel culture' streaming platform Rumble as social media ban causes surge in activity |url=https://news.sky.com/story/andrew-tates-move-to-anti-cancel-culture-streaming-platform-rumble-after-social-media-ban-causes-surge-in-activity-12687658 |work=Sky News |date=September 4, 2022 |access-date=September 5, 2022}}</ref> Other prominent figures to join in 2021 include far-right podcaster Nick Fuentes, who has become one of their biggest streamers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mediamatters.org/rumble/holocaust-denier-nick-fuentes-celebrates-viewership-rumble-ahead-platforms-third-gop-debate |title=Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes celebrates viewership on Rumble ahead of the platform’s third GOP debate partnership |first1=Jack |last1=Wheatley |first2=Jacina |last2=Hollins-Borges |date=November 3, 2023 |work=Media Matters for America |access-date=9 March 2026}}</ref>
According to an August 2022 Reuters article, Rumble is "better-funded" and "more mainstream" than its competitors BitChute and Odysee. Reuters states that all three platforms "include misinformation and conspiracy theories", with Rumble "moderating more content" than the other two.<ref name="skewtube">{{cite news |last1=Marshall |first1=Andrew R. C. |last2=Tanfani |first2=Joseph |title=SkewTube: New video-sharing sites thrives on misinformation and hate |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-media-misinformation/|work=Reuters|date=August 22, 2022|access-date=September 7, 2022}}</ref> Unlike BitChute and Odysee, Rumble does suppress results when searching for some keywords associated with hate speech or extremism; however, the content itself is still accessible.<ref name="skewtube" /><ref name="ctvnews">{{cite news|title=Investigating Canadian YouTube rival Rumble and its growing popularity among the world's far right |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/w5/investigating-canadian-youtube-rival-rumble-and-its-growing-popularity-among-the-world-s-far-right-1.5787533|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219140345/https://www.ctvnews.ca/w5/investigating-canadian-youtube-rival-rumble-and-its-growing-popularity-among-the-world-s-far-right-1.5787533|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 19, 2022|work=CTVNews|last=Newman |first=Kevin|date=February 19, 2022|access-date=May 29, 2024}}</ref>
According to a May 2022 Pew Research Center study, 20% of American adults have heard of Rumble, while 2% regularly got their news from Rumble. Of regular users, 76% identified as Republicans or were Republican-leaning, while 22% identified as Democrats or were Democratic-leaning. Around 90% of Rumble users believed news hosted on the site was mostly accurate. Most of Rumble's 200 most prominent accounts at that time were run by individuals, 22% of whom had been banned from other social media platforms. 55% of these prominent accounts also had accounts on other websites such as YouTube. A June 2022 review of posts by Pew Research from Rumble's 200 most prominent accounts found that 49% had posted about guns or gun rights, 48% had posted about abortion, 44% had posted about LGBTQ topics (specifically the LGBTQ grooming conspiracy theory), 42% had posted about the January 6 Capitol attack, and 26% had posted about extreme vaccine skepticism.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Ghosh |first1=Shreenita |last2=Stocking |first2=Galen |date=December 21, 2022 |title=Key facts about Rumble |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/12/21/key-facts-about-rumble/|website=Pew Research Center |access-date=June 17, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=4. Content from prominent alternative social media accounts highlights extreme vaccine skepticism, anxiety over LGBTQ issues |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2022/10/06/content-from-prominent-alternative-social-media-accounts-highlights-extreme-vaccine-skepticism-anxiety-over-lgbtq-issues/ |website=Pew Research Center's Journalism Project|date=October 6, 2022|access-date=December 6, 2023}}</ref>
Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Rumble did not follow other social media platforms in banning Russian state media from their site. In November 2022, Rumble was blocked in France, after their refusal to comply with the country's demand for the removal of Russian state media accounts.<ref name="politicoFarRight"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Rumble, une plate-forme de vidéos non modérée, est bloquée en France |trans-title=Unmoderated video site Rumble blocked in France |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2022/11/02/rumble-une-plate-forme-de-videos-non-moderee-est-bloquee-en-france_6148205_4408996.html|work=Le Monde|date=November 2, 2022|language=fr|access-date=March 6, 2023}}</ref> In May 2024, Rumble was blocked in Russia for not complying with the Russian government's demand to remove content.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}
In early 2023, Rumble began hosting live broadcasts for sports leagues owned by Thrill One Sports & Entertainment such as Nitrocross, Street League Skateboarding, and Power Slap.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mondy|first=Ben|url=https://www.theinertia.com/features/street-league-skateboarding-streaming-rumble-right-wing/|title=Street League Skateboarding Is Now Streamed on Platform Known for Right-Wing Audience|website=The Inertia|date=June 27, 2023|access-date=September 17, 2023}}</ref>
Rumble removed access to its platform in Brazil in 2023 due to legal orders from the country to suspend the accounts of some content creators. It went back online in Brazil in early 2025, citing the country's move to "rescind their censorship order on Rumble."<ref name="ReutersBrazil">{{cite news |last1=Brito |first1=Ricardo |last2=Macello |first2=Mari |last3=Paraguassu |first3=Lisandra |last4=Romani |first4=Andre |title=Brazil judge suspends Rumble platform after 'censorship' spat |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/brazil-supreme-court-orders-rumble-suspension-country-2025-02-22/ |access-date=23 February 2025 |publisher=Reuters |date=21 February 2025}}</ref> On February 19, 2025, Rumble joined a lawsuit against Brazil's Supreme Federal Court justice Alexandre de Moraes for a claim of illegally censoring right-wing media on social media.<ref name="NYTBrazil">{{cite news |last1=Nicas |first1=Jack |title=Trump Media Group Sues Brazilian Judge Weighing Arrest of Jair Bolsonaro |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/world/americas/trump-brazil-bolsonaro-judge.html |access-date=23 February 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=19 February 2025}}</ref> On February 21, 2025, Moraes ordered the suspension of Rumble for intentionally refusing to comply with court orders, including refusal to remove the account of Brazilian fugitive Allan dos Santos.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 February 2025 |title=Brazil Supreme Court justice orders Rumble suspension nationwide for alleged non-compliance |url=https://apnews.com/article/brazil-supreme-court-rumble-blocked-c45ab801d5bb23e6d9b2271bdcf7426e |access-date=22 February 2025 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>
== See also == * Comparison of video hosting services * List of online video platforms
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{official website}}
{{Video digital distribution platforms}} {{Internet streaming services}} {{Conservatism in Canada}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Alt-tech Category:Canadian entertainment websites Category:Companies listed on the Nasdaq Category:Internet properties established in 2013 Category:Video hosting Category:Video on demand services Category:Special-purpose acquisition companies