The call of Forums Are Dead - is it supposed to help?

[Katrina]

On my internet searches, I have seen on forums throughout the years with the call that Forums are dead!! Okay, so what does that mean? We should all pack things up and leave? Exactly HOW is that benefitting to just make the call?

How do you handle it when someone makes a Forums Are Dead thread?

Do those threads help your forum to pick up activity, or do you find that it's influencing your members?

 

[Ravenfreak]

I've never really had those threads on my own personal forums, though I've seen them on numerous random ones I've come across. I feel that it may bring some activity, but not much. A forum isn't truly dead until it's abandoned completely by the staff. Once no staff member has logged into their account in weeks or even months, I feel that it's game over.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

In my community, which is about community administration, the topic would be very welcomed as it would be on topic.

So, personally, I'd welcome it, and it would make for a great discussion.

And on a community where communities are not the topic, it could be an engaging topic for your off-topic section at the end of the day.

And if it gets a lot of responses, one might ask, are forums really dead after all?

P.s. I think forums are dead. The only people who typically say forum are all of us old-school forum owners. That's why I went with the term "community" because everyone is talking about communities. So, I treat my forums, as communities.

 

[Kennysplash]

I view it as a call for pity actually. Forums are not actually dead, although we can say that the rise of social media has made it's operation lessen, but we still have a whole lot of forums that are doing fine.
There is always something that can be done to improve forum's activities, and if you don't know what that is you would probably wail 'forums are dead' too.

 

[Mike30]

I am one of those that have posted some threads with similar title. And one of my threads had become one of the most popular(HOT) thread within a period of time.
Some how, it inspired users to post. Then end result? >>> More activity 🙂

 

[Dismal_Bliss]

When someone cries "forums are dead" he usually means that his forum is dead, and he was a lousy community leader.

 

[zappaDPJ]

When someone cries "forums are dead" he usually means that his forum is dead, and he was a lousy community leader.

There's definitely some truth in that although I'd say it's not necessarily because of poor leadership.

In some cases other forms of social media provide a better environment for content that used to be posted on forums, general chat being a prime example. That said there are still many areas where social media in general cannot compete with forums e.g. peer support on corporate forums, project management on Intranets and specialist niche topics where long form content is essential.

Contrary to popular belief, many corporate entities have abandoned Facebook etc in favour forums because of they have better control over the content that gets posted plus searchable content equals economical customer services.

Forums are by no means dead, they have just found alternative homes and I feel sure they will survive in some form long after other types of social media has disappeared.

 

[Nebulous]

Those people should get off forums and go where the people are if they aren't satisfied with the level of activity forums receive in modern times.

 

[Katrina]

Those people should get off forums and go where the people are if they aren't satisfied with the level of activity forums receive in modern times.

Well, they usually do go elsewhere...to social media instead of other forums.

 

[cpvr]

When someone cries "forums are dead" he usually means that his forum is dead, and he was a lousy community leader.

Exactly. Forums are far from dying. They’re thriving and pushing forward like they have been for years.

 

[Cam]

We've been seeing these threads on FP about forums being dead... For as long as I've been here. Sure, things have quieted down, and the whole concept of what a forum is supposed to be has evolved.

As for these threads themselves, they do no good. Maybe activity picks up a little bit for all the users posting in that particular thread, but I think that negative mindset can really be harmful for a community.

 

[Shortie_]

I wouldn't say forums are dying but I would say that they have changed. Social media made a big entrance on the internet and many who used to use forums moved over to groups within social media which changed how often forums were being used.

There are still dedicated users of forums and I feel whilst that is the case and we do have passionate community leaders, forums will not die.

 

[Dismal_Bliss]

I think a webmaster has to stop thinking "forum" and start thinking "community".

Forum = "If you build it, they will come" <- doesn't work anymore.

Community = You're in the game, actively involved, building a brotherhood.