THESIS: the real reason that people stay on this hellsite is not “chronological order” or “the drama” or whatever (per se), but is instead linked to how tumblr, unlike most social media, is not optimised to give content as short of a half-life as possible, but instead is optimised to let content continue to cycle for months, years, even decades. this has in turn led to a more consistent centralised site “culture” in which there is more coherent linkage among different areas of the site, thus also explaining why its content permeates so thoroughly throughout the internet.
I think a couple other things also really help:
Everyone on tumblr has the option to remain anonymous. At no point when creating a blog does tumblr ask for personal information (other users might, but that’s different)
The tag system is perfectly designed for op’s point. Making it so that all the tags you add to a post disappear when someone reblogs it from you is crucial. On twitter, I always feel as though I have to have something important to say if I respond to a tweet. On tumblr I can put whatever the fuck I want in the tags and like maybe 3 people will see it before it is lost forever.
There’s no verification, no ad revenue, no pressure by the platform to keep creating. This really takes the stress of social media away from this platform and makes it so that communities can organically form. Similarly, corporations have NO platform on tumblr cause there aren’t reliable ways to advertise on this site.
Follower count is not public information unless it’s voluntarily shared. So ‘popular’ users feel more like down to earth fellow human beings who happen to have good content who actually engages with their audience instead of a celebrity who’s unreachable.
Also we don’t use the verify symbol
Yup.
im posting and reblogging for over 9 years now from this blog now and tops 2 ppl see the shit i comment on….
sorry mrs. smith but the book you want me to read for class is actually considered “irredeemable media” so i cant read it or else my mutuals will block me and i’ll get a callout
