Yes, they require a phone verification via text when creating an account but no, you don't need a phone to use Parler. I forgot I made a Parler account in 2019. I must have forgotten my password or who knows. But I reset my password, did a phone verification, and was able to get back into my Parler account a second ago. So, I guess I was able to answer my own question regarding Parler. Who owns Parler? I don't know.