Are forums in decline?

[Pale Rider]

Visiting a couple of my old forum haunts I noticed both seemed quieter than a couple of years ago.

Don't know about views, but several threads which I would have expected to get replies into double figures petered out after just a few posts.

I was talking (perhaps that's the future) to a mate who is on a motorcycle forum.

He said that is quieter than it was, at least in terms of posts.

His theory is many more people now use tablets and smartphones which are good for reading, but not so good for posting.

Seems to me it is fairly simple to start your own forum, so maybe there are just as many readers and posters, but spread over more, but smaller, forums.

 

[ianrauk]

Seem's like cc is one of the exceptions then.

My footy club forum has become far too busy now though and they changed the format which is a mess so I frequent it less

 

[Ganymede]

CC seems very busy to me - I've only been here a while but it seems to me that the number of people joining here is on the increase. It may be the TdF effect (I freely admit that I started cycle commuting after Bradley won in 2012, you'd think there'd be no connection but there is!) but I don't think I'm mistaken that there's been a torrent of new people signing on. Perhaps @Shaun can tell us. Good news for cycling I guess.

This is quite a varied forum too - welcoming whether you are a racer or a plodder or a tourer or a techie or a newbie.

 

[michaelcycle]

Generally, yes.

 

[classic33]

Looking at @welsh dragon and @classic33 's level of posting, I'd say that CC isn't in decline.

Thats just two of, what about the rest of yer?

 

[classic33]

Facebook has lost 80% of its "members" within the last two years, and is expected to "die" within the next two years.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

This forum is very much the exception, It's the only one I visit where membership seems to constantly grow. Most others are just a shadow of their former selves.

 

[welsh dragon]

The cycling forum here appears to be doing well which I think everyone will agree is a good thing. However on others people don't seem to be posting as much, but I am an Infrequent visitor to some of the other forums associated with this one, so others would be in a much better position to judge that.

 

[Glow worm]

Facebook has lost 80% of its "members" within the last two years, and is expected to "die" within the next two years.

We live in hope! If only Twatter would go the same way.

 

[albion]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25953225

Universities will run out of students by 2020 and Oxygen will all be gone by 2060.

 

[Brandane]

This is the only forum I participate in these days. I used to be quite active on a busy motorcycle forum, including arranging 3 day weekend rideouts which would attract 30+ bikes. It all got too political and a lot of people drifted away, until it reached the stage it is at now, with about 6 regular contributors.
I can't imagine the same thing happening on CC, but I do think that forums in general are fading away. These things do tend to have a limited shelf life, like most things.

 

[Brandane]

Facebook has lost 80% of its "members" within the last two years, and is expected to "die" within the next two years.

I can never leave Facebook.....




Because I never joined up!

 

[MarkF]

but I do think that forums in general are fading away. These things do tend to have a limited shelf life, like most things.

I joined a cycling forum primarily for information, from experienced others, I don't think they'll fade away, maybe folk just gravitate to the better ones.

 

[Brandane]

It probably helps that this forum is very user friendly, for which I assume we can thank @Shaun . Some others I might have been interested in were a complete PITA to use. From viewing, to posting, or trying to add photos. If you are short on patience, as I tend to be, it is easier just to move on.

 

[Ganymede]

It probably helps that this forum is very user friendly, for which I assume we can thank @Shaun . Some others I might have been interested in were a complete PITA to use. From viewing, to posting, or trying to add photos. If you are short on patience, as I tend to be, it is easier just to move on.

This is so true. Great software.