I’ve been building online communities for over 15 years now. Having seen the world of online forums and communities up close for a long time, let me tell you—online forums are not dead.
There was a time when most online activity was centered around forums. People would log in to their favorite platform to participate in discussions on topics they cared about.
Whether it was a niche-based forum or a general one, forums helped connect people who shared common interests and goals.
The Impact of Social Media on Forums
Around 2010, the rise of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter led many to believe that forums were on the decline.
But here’s the thing—forums didn’t die, they simply changed form.
The nature of community interaction has evolved, but the need to connect through meaningful discussions is still very much alive.
Reddit: The Modern-Day Forum Giant
Take Reddit as the biggest example. Launched in 2005, Reddit has continued to grow over the years and has not only survived but thrived through the constant changes in the digital world. It’s proof that forums are still relevant and important today.
Take a look at Reddit’s growth since its inception. It’s the forum-platform with UGC that has grown exponentially for years without any sign of slowdown.
Despite the rise of social media and even changes in Google’s algorithms, Reddit has remained a go-to platform for millions.
Why? Because forums, in any shape or form, resonate with the basic human need to interact. Reddit’s subreddits act as smaller communities within a larger forum structure, proving that people still seek out these spaces to share knowledge, opinions, and experiences.
Forums vs. Social Media: What’s the Difference?
Some people see Twitter as a real-time forum for discussions, especially around trending news and events.
Twitter allows for immediate responses, but it’s still very much a forum in essence. While the format is different, the desire to engage in real-time, meaningful interactions hasn’t gone away.
The Evolution of Forum Tools
The biggest shift in the forum space has come from the evolution of forum tools. Back in the day, platforms like phpBB, vBulletin, and Invision Board dominated the market. For WordPress users, bbPress was an option to create a discussion board.
But today’s forums need to be more than just a place for discussion threads.
It’s one of the reasons why Jatra (this community platform) goes beyond discussions and lets community managers host discussions, articles, chats, jobs, events, webinars, quizzes, polls and more natively.
Forums have evolved into multi-functional platforms where communities can thrive and interact in various ways. This is why many message boards are still going strong, adapting to the needs of today’s digital communities.
Modern Forums Need to Do More
Online communities are evolving but most of the modern community platforms have not evolved beyond discussions. A decade ago, it was possible to keep your audience engaged with discussion threads; but not anymore.
For example, a B2B SaaS community can keep its users engaged with discussions, chats, events, changelog, product-feedback, job postings and more. Communities are no longer centered around discussions and need to do more to cater to evolving user needs.
Are Online Forums Dying? No, They're Thriving
It’s easy to think that forums are dying in a world dominated by social media platforms, but that’s far from the truth.
Forums are very much alive—they’ve simply adapted. They’ve moved from standalone sites to platforms like Reddit, Twitter, and niche communities that cater to specific interests.
The core reason forums are still thriving is that they allow for deep, organized discussions. Unlike social media feeds where conversations get lost in the noise, forums provide a structured way to engage, share knowledge, and revisit old threads.
Whether it’s a tech support question, a gaming forum, or a professional community, forums offer something unique—a place for ongoing, in-depth dialogue.
The Future of Online Forums
So, are online forums dead? Absolutely not. In fact, they’re probably more relevant now than ever. As people seek spaces where they can dive deep into their interests without distractions, forums are evolving to meet that demand.
