Recently, we decided to abandon our Twitter account. We won’t detail why, but if you’ve been on the Internet in the last few weeks, you probably can guess the reason. In that time, we’ve been building a more intentional and inclusive online space. We want to introduce to you, our FORUM (don’t click that yet, stay with me).
Now, if you’re over the age of 35, you are likely really familiar with online forums, but you probably aren’t clear about why we’ve decided to open one. Social media has exploded over the last 15 years with platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter making it easy for anyone–even your grandparents–to share photos, updates, and more. With that came an endless stream of breaking news, targeted ads, and influencers to sell you things you didn’t know you wanted.
I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted. Sure, social media is useful. Sometimes I go on to take a look at a news story or to check on a friend, but the next thing you know, I’ve been sucked into endlessly scrolling videos that have been carefully curated to keep me glued to my screen (man it does a good job 😩). Fun for a while, but it’s overwhelming and distracting.
Many people don’t know much about forums as they aren’t as popular as they once were, so I put together this list of pros and cons.
Pros
Focused Communities
Forums are usually built around a specific interest or hobby. This creates an environment where the members have a common interest. Social media, on the other hand, often feels like a chaotic mix of unrelated topics. For example, a forum dedicated to Black culture can have in-depth conversations about our experiences, whereas social media posts on the topic get stolen and lost among unrelated memes and trends.
Structured Conversations
Forums use threads/topics and categories to organize conversations. This makes it easy to follow and revisit topics. Social media lacks this organization, and posts get buried quickly in a constantly refreshing feed. Have you ever wanted to read something when your feed refreshed on you? I understand your frustration.
Thoughtful Interactions
Forum culture values meaningful dialogue. The members usually end up typing more detailed posts and responses compared to the short comments, quick likes, and shares. Social media often prioritizes surface-level interactions. Forums provide a space for thoughtful contributions; in contrast, social media’s algorithms often reward sensationalism or controversy.
Privacy and Exclusivity
Exclusive forums can create a safer place for members to discuss sensitive topics. On social media, conversations are often in public, allowing anyone to comment, even if their intentions are disruptive.
No Algorithmic Manipulation
Forums present posts in chronological or relevance-based order. This ensures that our contributions are visible in the community. Social media platforms rely heavily on algorithms to decide what content to show its users. This distorts conversations for engagement.
Moderation and Community Standards
Forums usually have dedicated moderators to ensure rules are followed and that conversations are productive. The moderators are real people with less chance of deleting your content for the wrong reasons. On social media, moderation is inconsistent, and trolls and spammers are out of control.
No Clout Chasing
We can have genuine conversations without anyone chasing fame or clout. No one is influencing you, no fake reviews designed to sell you something (why is everyone selling something?), and no staged pranks for attention. Social media can reward vanity, while forums offer more substance.
A Sense of Belonging
Forums have a smaller community that tends to be tight-knit. Members start to feel like family. Social media interactions can feel impersonal, and just the size of the platforms can dilute the sense of connection.
No Overwhelming Ads
Forums generally have no advertising, and when they do, the ads are minimal or non-intrusive, allowing members to focus on the conversation. Social media platforms and influencers make money from their advertising. These ads are often tailored to your browser habits and can interrupt the flow of conversation as they’re everywhere. And sometimes, it’s hard to recognize what’s an ad or not. 👎🏽
Community Reputation Systems
Forums often have systems like user ranks or reputation points that reward helpful or insightful contributions. The systems can encourage users to have healthy and valuable conversations.
Archives for Long-Term Access
One of my main issues (okay, outside of the brain-rot — which I do like in small doses) is that older information is so hard to find on social media. Remember a good conversation on someone’s Facebook page? You’ll never see it again. You may be able to find something in a group if you have the right search terms, but that’s iffy. The search is fickle. Forums actually serve as repositories of collective information. Older threads remain accessible and searchable throughout the life of the community. Not to mention, we’ve got bookmarks.
These are all great reasons to join a forum. And to be fair, I will list some of the cons that I’ve thought of.
Cons
Smaller Audience
Since forums are niche-focused, they have smaller user bases compared to mainstream social media. This can limit the number of people participating in the discussions. (Is this really a con, though 🤔)
Slower Engagement
Forum members often put more thought into their posts, so responses may take longer than the instant feedback on social media. If you’re used to the quick interactions, forums can feel slow.
Learning Curve
If you’ve never used a forum or are used to a different forum software, the structure, rules, and posting etiquette can feel foreign. Categories, sub-categories, and topics may overwhelm a new user who is used to social media’s basic layout.
Less Discoverability
Forums rely on word-of-mouth or direct searches for the most part. Social media platforms make it easier to go viral and attract new users. Plus, everyone just knows about the top dogs.
Can’t Go Viral
On forums, it’s more about the socializing than the popularity. There is no way for you to go viral overnight or reach a million likes on your content.
Limited Mobile Usability
While forums can be mobile-friendly, they often don’t provide the seamless user experience of a social media app. Navigation, posting, or formatting may feel clunky.
Hard to Retain Members
The Internet has so many distractions it’s hard to keep forum members engaged. Forums are less mindless scrolling and more engaged conversations; this can be less appealing for those who prefer platforms like TikTok.
Stagnation
It’s up to the forum members to keep the community fresh. Members need to post regular content so that the forum isn’t stagnant. A lack of discussions or declining activity levels can cause even long-time users to leave.
But here’s the best part, you don’t have to leave social media completely! You can still use your accounts to stay connected, but wouldn’t it be nice to have a place where you can step away from the noise and distractions?
If you want to try it out, I offer you an official invitation to join!
