Multimedia messaging app Snapchat has decided to place a permanent ban on US President Donald Trump from its platform.
Initially, Snapchat announced an indefinite account suspension of President Trump and after its assessment of what action suits the platform's community in the long term, the company decided on a permanent ban on the president.
Permanent ban on Snapchat
A Snapchat spokesperson said: "In the interest of public safety, and based on his attempts to spread misinformation, hate speech, and incite violence, which are clear violations of our guidelines, we have made the decision to permanently terminate his account."
According to the firm, it had stopped promoting Trump's account on its Discover platform since June, meaning it has only been visible to subscribers or users who search for him since that month.
Last June, Snapchat chief executive officer (CEO) Evan Spiegel explained the platform's decision not to promote the president's account.
Spiegel said: "We will not amplify voices who incite racial violence and injustice by giving them free promotion on Discover. Racial violence and injustice have no place in our society and we stand together with all who seek peace, love, equality, and justice in America."
Other social media bans on Trump
Facebook has decided to extend its ban on US President Donald Trump from its platform and Instagram for the rest of his term. Prior to the extension, the social media company blocked President Trump from posting on its platforms following attacks of his supporters on the US Capitol.
In a blog post, Facebook chief executive officer (CEO) Mark Zuckerberg said: "We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great. Therefore, we are extending the block we have placed on his Facebook and Instagram accounts indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks until the peaceful transition of power is complete."
The Facebook CEO argued that Trump demonstrated that he "intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor, Joe Biden."
Meanwhile, Twitter announced the permanent suspension on President Trump after it initially suspended his account for 24 hours following violent protests by his supporters on the US Capitol.
Twitter said: "After close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context around them we have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence."
"In the context of horrific events this week, we made it clear on Wednesday that additional violations of the Twitter Rules would potentially result in this very course of action," the firm added.
In addition to the bans by social media firms, PGA of America President Jim Richerson announced that the 2022 PGA Championship will not be held at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey.
In a written statement, Richerson said: "The PGA of America Board of Directors voted tonight to exercise the right to terminate the agreement to play the 2022 PGA Championship at Trump Bedminster."
He explained in a video address: "It has become clear that conducting the PGA Championship at Trump Bedminster would be detrimental to the PGA of America brand, it would put at risk the PGA’s ability to deliver our many programs, and sustain the longevity of our mission."
