This thread is for the general discussion of the Article [plain]Forums Aren't Dying - They Just Need a Purpose[/plain]. Please add to the discussion here.

You're absolutely right! Just look at what social media platforms have been doing lately, for example Tumblr rolled out their community feature. Then if we look back a few years ago Discord rolled out their version of forums. It's obvious that forums still work, they still have a purpose but you need to find that purpose for your community if you want it to succeed.

Sometimes forums lose their purpose as they grow and try to accommodate everyone's topical interests in the flight to capture more traffic.

I don't care what people think. I'll never let my forum die. I'll always keep improving, and taking my community to higher levels. Technology has improved, but so have forum softwares such as Xenforo.

I don't care what people think. I'll never let my forum die. I'll always keep improving, and taking my community to higher levels. Technology has improved, but so have forum softwares such as Xenforo.

I am the same way just keep pushing every day and have a vision to what you really want.

Be active! Yup, I agree. Be active for your members. But what if you don't have any active members? I, as an administrator can only create so much content. I can ask questions, but if there's nobody there to answer back, the forum just becomes an empty void, an echo chamber. Attracting active members is crucial. And I'm not so sure google is such a relable spot to advertise on anymore, not with the trillions of websites that exist. Finding a particular, unknown site is like looking for that proverbial needle in a haystack, and most people today don't invest that kind of time.

Be active! Yup, I agree. Be active for your members. But what if you don't have any active members? I, as an administrator can only create so much content. I can ask questions, but if there's nobody there to answer back, the forum just becomes an empty void, an echo chamber. Attracting active members is crucial. And I'm not so sure google is such a relable spot to advertise on anymore, not with the trillions of websites that exist. Finding a particular, unknown site is like looking for that proverbial needle in a haystack, and most people today don't invest that kind of time.

Have you tried promoting on Lemmy yet? Most people on Lemmy like to stray away from the bigger platforms like Reddit and other social media platforms. Heck even promoting on Reddit could possibly help bring members in.

This morning I got the itch to play a Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha role playing game, so I put some feelers out on Reddit, inquiring about the best possible system for something that would allow for spell and device construction, while being light on the combat mechanics-- that's where most forum role playing games die, combat. I might get one, possibly two people, hopefully!

 

I honestly haven't heard of Lemmy , so no, I haven't yet, but I'll be sure to check it out.

Forums are dying and really don't have a purpose in 2025, & beyond.

I still like them though.

Forums are dying and really don't have a purpose in 2025, & beyond.

I own a Jcink forum and generally gain 30+ members a month. You would think that if a free forum service could gain you that many members a month, then the paid forum services would achieve greater results. I own a resource board, though, with most of the resources locked behind a registration wall, which is the primary reason I receive so many new members monthly. I digress that many members keep joining my board on a monthly basis, then surely forums have some purpose.

There are plenty of purposes for forums in 2025+. Sure, some communities die, but others are still vibrant, like this one! And besides, some forum administrators refuse to yield! I'm trying YET AGAIN. I will not fail. I'm determined. And I will succeed... somehow.

but others are still vibrant, like this one!

 

Not sure I would describe this community as "vibrant" ...it seems to be rather inactive, only receiving a hand full of posts (or less) each day.

You know I was thinking about this thread while browsing MyBB's support forum. The reason why is because a good handful of people were talking about how forums were becoming more popular again.

https://community.mybb.com/thread-243317.html

Not sure I would describe this community as "vibrant" ...it seems to be rather inactive, only receiving a hand full of posts (or less) each day.

Perhaps vibrant is a relative term. Compared to my forum, that has zero participation beyond myself, I think it applies here.