Do you think forums can still thrive in the age of AI and social media?

[tdbnz]

Hi

I’ve been thinking about starting a new forum, but I keep wondering can forums still grow like they used to, now that most discussions happen on Reddit, Discord, or social media?


I personally think forums can make a comeback, especially for niche topics like AI and tech where people want more depth and less noise.


What do you think makes a modern forum succeed today?

 

[Ravenfreak]

I believe the niche is the biggest thing. Personally I think research communities should be on a forum, or even Reddit over a Discord server. Doesn't matter what you're researching, it should be on the web so it can be easily accessible and able to be backed up in case something happens. I see too many research communities only on Discord, and it makes me shake my head.

 

[tdbnz]

I believe the niche is the biggest thing. Personally I think research communities should be on a forum, or even Reddit over a Discord server. Doesn't matter what you're researching, it should be on the web so it can be easily accessible and able to be backed up in case something happens. I see too many research communities only on Discord, and it makes me shake my head.

You make a really solid point. I agree that the niche and accessibility matter most.

Discord is great for quick discussion and community building, but it’s terrible for archiving or referencing information later. Everything gets buried in chat logs, and if the server ever goes down, years of research can disappear instantly.

A forum or Reddit community makes a lot more sense for research topics they’re searchable, organized, and easier to back up. Discord could still work as a companion space for real-time collaboration, but it shouldn’t be the main hub for storing research.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Of course.

But you need to focus on building a community through offering pain point solving content and resources and better onboarding to gain and retain community members.

Don't focus on AI and social media. That's a different platform.

Focus entirely on building your community.

Now forums are not going to be big boards anymore. Even this forum doesn't get activity by all its members and it probably never will again. People have died or otherwise moved on from forums.

But a little forum with a active community will always be better than a big forum with an inactive community.

Make you forum have the type of community where best friends are made.

 

[1stop]

I still believe forums can survive. Social media is noisy and everybody is just chasing clout. Forums still get that cool vibe where people actually talk sense and share ideas without the drama.

 

[Baw$e]

I think it's tougher for forums to thrive because of AI, but quality content will always be favored over automatic generated content. If you put in the work, others will notice.

 

[Nomad]

it depends on how you interpret the world "thrive." It might not thrive like social media sites but forums will continue to exist. They might not make a lot of money or get a lot of active users but people will continue to run forums.

 

[Maya]

Yes, I think they can, but in a different way. Forums work best where depth, continuity, and trust matter. AI and social media are fast and loud. Forums are slower, searchable, and built around shared context. If they focus on meaningful discussion and strong culture, they still have a real place.