SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND PRACTICES

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2024

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND PRACTICES [Abstract]

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND PRACTICES

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

Other current assets consist of receivables for proceeds from warrant exercises, prepaid rent, insurance and prepaid data costs. Included in the prepaid expenses and other current assets are receivables related to warrant conversion of $3,956.9 as of June 30, 2024 and $0.0 as of June 30, 2023.  This balance reflects proceeds from warrant exercises in transit from the transfer agent.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Useful lives for property and equipment are as follows:

Asset Type	Range
Furniture and equipment	2 - 5 years
Computer equipment	3 years

Expenditures which substantially increase value or extend useful lives are capitalized. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. Gains and losses are recorded on the disposition or retirement of property and equipment based on the net book value and any proceeds received.

Long-lived fixed assets held and used are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. Circumstances such as the discontinuation of a line of service, a sudden or consistent decline in the sales forecast for a product, changes in technology or in the way an asset is being used, a history of operating or cash flow losses or an adverse change in legal factors or in TMTG climate, among others, may trigger an impairment review. If such indicators are present, TMTG performs undiscounted cash flow analyses to determine if impairment exists. The asset value would be deemed impaired if the undiscounted cash flows generated did not exceed the carrying value of the asset. If impairment is determined to exist, any related impairment loss is calculated based on fair value. There were no triggering events identified that necessitated an impairment test over property and equipment.   Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. See Note 4 - Property and equipment for further detail.

Software Development Cost

We expense software development costs, including costs to develop software products or the software component products to be sold, leased, or marketed to external users, before technological feasibility is reached.  Technological feasibility typically is reached shortly before the release of such products.  As a result, development costs that meet the criteria for capitalization were not material for the periods presented.

Software development cost also includes costs to develop software to be used solely to meet internal needs and cloud-based applications used to deliver our services. We capitalize development costs related to these software applications once the preliminary project stage is complete and it is probable that the project will be completed and the software will be used to perform the function intended.  Costs capitalized for developing such software applications were not material for the periods presented.

Revenue recognition

The Company records revenue in accordance with ASC 606. The Company determines the amount of revenue to be recognized through application of the following steps- Identification of the contract, or contracts with a customer; - Identification of the performance obligations in the contract; - Determination of the transaction price; - Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and - Recognition of revenue when or as the Company satisfies the performance obligations.

The Company entered into advertising contractual arrangements with advertising manager service companies. The advertising manager service companies provide advertising services through their Ad Manager Service Platform on the Truth Social website to customers. The Company determines the number of Ad Units available on its Truth Social website. The advertising manager service companies  have sole discretion over the terms of the auction and all payments and actions associated therewith. Prices for the Ad Units are set by an auction operated and managed by these companies. The Company  has the right to block specific advertisers at its sole reasonable discretion, consistent with applicable laws, rules, regulations, statutes, and ordinances. The Company is an agent in these arrangements,  and recognizes revenue for its share in exchange for arranging for the specified advertising to be provided by the advertising manager service companies. The advertising revenues are recognized in the period when the advertising services are provided.

Unearned revenue

Unearned revenue primarily consists of billings or payments received from customers in advance of revenue recognized for the services provided to our customers or annual licenses and is recognized as services are performed or ratably over the life of the license. We generally invoice customers in advance or in milestone-based installments. Unearned revenue of $1,488.5 was recognized as revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2024, which was included in the deferred revenue balance as of December 31, 2023. As June 30, 2024, deferred revenue is expected to be recognized during the succeeding 12-month period and is therefore presented as current liability on the unaudited condensed balance sheet.

Cost of revenue

Cost of revenue primarily encompasses expenses associated with generating advertising revenue. These costs are determined by allocating staff direct and indirect costs proportionately, including depreciation, based on the time spent managing the agency relationships with external vendors. These costs are confined to activities related to coordinating with these third-party vendors as the third-party vendors are responsible to control and facilitate the delivery of advertising services.

Research and development

Research and development expenses consist primarily of personnel-related costs, including salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation, for our engineers and other employees engaged in the research and development of our products and services. In addition, research and development expenses include allocated facilities costs, and other supporting overhead costs.

Marketing and sales

Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of personnel-related costs, including salaries, commissions, benefits and stock-based compensation for our employees engaged in sales, sales support, business development and media, marketing, and customer service functions. In addition, marketing and sales-related expenses also include advertising costs, market research, trade shows, branding, marketing, public relations costs, allocated facilities costs, and other supporting overhead costs. We expense marketing and sales cost in the period in which they are incurred.

Selling, general and administration expenses

General and administration expenses consist primarily of personnel-related costs, including salaries, benefits, and stock-based compensation for our executive, finance, legal, information technology, corporate communications, human resources, and other administration employees. In addition, general and administration expenses include fees and costs for professional services (including third-party consulting, legal, and accounting services), facilities costs, and other supporting overhead costs that are not allocated to other departments.

Income taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained. Income tax amounts are therefore recognized for all situations where the likelihood of realization is greater than 50%. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in income tax expense in the period in which the change in judgment occurs. Accrued interest expense and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recorded in Income Tax Expense/(Benefit). See Note 7 - Income Taxes.

Derivatives

The Company evaluates its financial instruments to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives in accordance with ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”. Derivative instruments are initially recorded at fair value on the grant date and re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the statements of operations. Derivative assets and liabilities are classified in the balance sheets as current or non-current based on whether or not net-cash settlement or conversion of the instrument could be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date. The Company accounts for the warrants and earnout in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40. The Company has determined that the warrants qualify for equity treatment in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Commitments and contingencies

Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, and penalties and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The Company has no liabilities for loss contingencies.

Recently issued accounting standards

In December 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2023-09 “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures,” or ASU 2023-09. ASU 2023-09 requires additional disaggregated disclosures on an entity’s effective tax rate reconciliation and additional details on income taxes paid. ASU 2023-09 is effective on a prospective basis, with the option for retrospective application, for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024 and early adoption is permitted. We do not expect the adoption of ASU 2023-09 to have a material impact on our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07 “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures,” or ASU 2023-07. ASU 2023-07 enhances the disclosures required for reportable segments on an annual and interim basis. ASU 2023-07 is effective on a retrospective basis for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023, for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, and early adoption is permitted. We do not expect the adoption of ASU 2023-07 to have a material impact on our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, “Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40)—Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity”. ASU 2020-06 reduces the number of accounting models for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock. For convertible instruments with conversion features that are not required to be accounted for as derivatives under Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, or that do not result in substantial premiums accounted for as paid-in capital, the embedded conversion features no longer are separated from the host contract. ASU 2020-06 also removes certain conditions that should be considered in the derivatives scope exception evaluation under Subtopic 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity, and clarify the scope and certain requirements under Subtopic 815-40. In addition, ASU 2020-06 improves the guidance related to the disclosures and earnings-per-share (EPS) for convertible instruments and contracts in an entity’s own equity. ASU 2020-06 is effective for public smaller reporting companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Board specified that an entity should adopt the guidance as of the beginning of its annual fiscal year. The Company has adopted ASU 2020-06 effective as of January 1, 2024. The adoption of ASU 2020-06 did not have a material effect on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.