Are traditional forums dead in the age of Social and Reddit?

[Shawn Gossman]

It's easier to join Reddit or social media and access unlimited different forum-like discussions than it is to join one forum at a time.

They used to say social media users and forum users are different. I think that's a copout. I don't believe it's a true statement. I think it's the same users. I think social media and Reddit are just easier to use and enjoy all the things you like versus having to search for and join individual forums.

What do you all think about this issue? Does it worry you at all as a forum owner?

 

[Heatman]

The biggest discouragement anyone is going to have as a forum owner would be thinking that he or she is going to compete with social media platforms today because it is completely impossible to do that. It's okay to look at being like reddit but never social media platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads and so on.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

I think Reddit and social media is entirely different than forums, anyhow.

Social is where fast viral stuff happens. Reddit is where a lot of trolling happens. Forums are niche communities full of easier to find evergreen content.