Tumblr has added 'communities' similar to Reddit

Tumblr has rolled out a new feature called "Communities," which are in-app groups centered around specific topics or shared interests.The Communities feature, previously available in beta, works similarly to subreddits or Facebook groups. Each topic ranging from film photography and marine biology to LGBTQ issues and video gameshas its own dedicated landing page where posts shared with the community appear. 

These groups include features like member counts for users currently online, moderation tools, and community-specific guidelines. Posts shared within a community also gain a unique comments section visible only to members of that group. Communities can be set to either public or private, depending on the preferences of their moderators.

Tumblr’s decision to adopt a community-based structure isn’t surprising, as it mirrors the successful model of Reddit. Over the years, platforms like Reddit have gained traction while traditional forums and other online communities have faded or been absorbed by companies like Google. Reddit’s growth has been notable, with the platform expanding its user base and becoming profitable for the first time.

 However, Reddit’s strength user-moderated subreddits has also posed challenges to corporate goals. Last year, for example, subreddit moderators organized a widespread protest against changes to the platform’s API pricing. As search engines like Google struggle with declining reliability and the rise of AI-generated summaries, Reddit has become a go-to source for users seeking detailed, community-driven information. In response, Reddit itself is evolving, introducing search-friendly features such as "Answers," an AI-powered summary tool announced earlier this week.

While Tumblr isn’t positioning itself as a search platform like Reddit, its new Communities feature makes it easier for users to discover and engage with niche content and connect with others who share similar passions. This enhancement creates a streamlined way for Tumblr users to find content and discussions relevant to their interests. Communities are now available across all platforms, including the web, iOS, and Android.