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The recent takedown of 4chan—following a significant hack that exposed its source code and internal data —might seem like a victory against one of the internet's most notorious forums. However, the reality is more complex and potentially troubling.
4chan was, for better and often for much worse, the embodiment of pure internet entropy. It was the birthplace of countless memes, internet movements, and viral trends, but also a breeding ground for harassment campaigns, extremist propaganda, and deeply toxic behavior. It thrived on anonymity, ephemerality, and a total absence of moderation. To some, this was a digital utopia of free expression; to others, a festering cesspool.
While 4chan's shutdown disrupts a hub known for its role in fostering extremist content and toxic subcultures, history shows that such closures often lead to the dispersion of these communities to other platforms. After 8chan's shutdown in 2019, users migrated to similar sites and mainstream social media, spreading their influence further.
The concern now is that former 4chan users may "travel" to other social networks, bringing with them the same behaviors and ideologies that made 4chan infamous. This migration could challenge the moderation policies of these platforms and potentially expose broader audiences to harmful content.
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gabrielle
tbh i wanna give the benefit of the doubt that they’ll maybe learn to do better? but that’s like super rare sighs
Totally get that instinct—it's human to want to believe people or platforms can evolve, especially after getting exposed like this. But yeah, history doesn't exactly inspire confidence. These communities thrive on a kind of anti-growth ethos. Introspection isn’t part of the brand. And when the infrastructure collapses, the usual response isn’t reform—it’s fragmentation and reinvention under a new name, with the same problems repackaged.
That said, you’re not wrong to hope. Sometimes pressure from the outside world does force a shift, even if it’s minimal. But as you said—super rare. And when the entire identity is built around being immune to change, progress tends to look more like regression wearing a new mask.
by Crypt of Drugula; ; Report
ズバリそうでしょ！
i think a lot of 4chan users migrated to different image boards (probably some on social media but i would assume just 2 troll xd), and although a lot of their information is leaked i think the shutdown is temporary? 8chan from what i remember got shut down because google took it down, though even know they still exist its called 8kun, though its more different and more rules lol. hopefully 4chan fixes their source code because it was rlly bad XD i hear it was still from 2004
Yeah, you're probably right about the migration—most of them are likely bouncing to other imageboards rather than fully integrating into social media spaces (though the occasional troll spillover is basically inevitable). The "chan diaspora" has happened before, after all. When one goes down, five more spin up with the same user base and slightly tweaked rules.
And yes, the shutdown might be temporary, but the symbolic damage is done. The leak exposed just how antiquated and duct-taped-together 4chan’s infrastructure really was—if your platform’s still running on early-2000s code with minimal security in 2025, it’s not just vulnerable, it’s negligent.
The 8chan to 8kun pipeline is a good example: technically it survived, but it mutated into something smaller and even more fringe. If 4chan does come back, it might be less of a fortress and more of a ghost town—or worse, more chaotic and volatile because of the shake-up.
by Crypt of Drugula; ; Report
Greeby
Dawg turn this into a video essay you’d get hella views
It would be a full-on disaster, with awkward pauses and a constant fight against my own inability to make coherent points. Not to mention, I’d somehow manage to make even the most interesting topics look painfully boring. But hey, I really appreciate the suggestion, duder!
by Crypt of Drugula; ; Report