The Top-Level Domain (TLD) “.democrat” is one of the hundreds of TLDs recognized and administered by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). ICANN is a non-profit organization responsible for coordinating the maintenance and procedures of several databases related to the namespaces of the internet, ensuring the network’s stable and secure operation (ICANN, 2021).
The introduction of new TLDs, including “.democrat,” is part of the latest expansion of web domain names controlled by ICANN. This step was taken in an effort to encourage diversity and allow people, organizations, and companies to create more specific branding for their websites.
Since “.com,” “.org,” and other traditional TLDs have been heavily registered, the telecommunications industry started to evolve by creating thousands of new TLDs to diversify the domains available for the fast-growing internet world.
The “.democrat” TLD is run by Rightside Registry, a Domain Name Services innovator which provides diverse and relevant domain extensions (Cision PR Newswire, 2014).
Targeted toward the Democratic Party and its supporters in the United States, the “.democrat” Top-Level Domain offers a new space for those who identify as Democrats to create individualized branding. For example, political campaigners, pollsters, bloggers, or even voters who define themselves as Democrats, can uniquely brand their websites or blogs by using a “.democrat” TLD.
In any democratic system globally, it can help supporters of the democratic ideology to stand out online, and express their political views more effectively. It’s important to note, though, that there are no restrictions to using this TLD. Therefore, anyone can register a domain with “.democrat,” irrespective of its relevance to its intended political affiliation.
However, at the time of putting these details together, there seem to be no high-profile users of the “.democrat” TLD. Many politicians and associated entities appear to prefer TLDs such as “.com,” “.org,” or “.gov” for their digital assets. This could be due to the international recognition and trust associated with these traditional TLDs.
In conclusion, the “.democrat” TLD offers a unique branding opportunity for those who identify with democratic values and ideas. However, its usage does not seem to be widespread as of now, which could be due to various possible reasons, including personal choice or lack of awareness.
References:
- ICANN. (2021). About ICANN. Retrieved from https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/welcome-2012-02-25-en
- Cision PR Newswire. (2014). Rightside Registry Opens .democrat for Public Registration. Retrieved from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rightside-registry-opens-democrat-for-public-registration-259321051.html
