Internet forums becoming irrelevant?

[Van Hellseek]

In the good old days of the internet, 'forums' thrived. They were basically the only way a person could be part of an online community. But since the advent of social networking, forums seem to be becoming less and less popular, except where very specialist knowledge is required.

For most general topics, such as chatting and your favourite games & movies/music etc facebook & SN groups seem to be more convenient to the masses, since they only have to join one single place and have it all, without the need to register and partake in random sites.

The only exception is very large forums (most of which were started before the days of SN), and even those seem to be fast losing popularity.

Opinions?

 

[Van Hellseek]

I agree that forums have a use, but I fear the trend amongst the masses will be to favour SN over forums, unlike the old days where it was forums or GTFO.

Plus lets not forget, most posters here will be a little biased, for obvious reasons...

 

[Van Hellseek]

Not everyone uses social networking sites

MW

I don't either. But I think you may be missing the point.

 

[Van Hellseek]

Do we really want the masses though?

To a point, yes we really do. Unless you want forums to descend into a small collective of elitists.

 

[Van Hellseek]

(Magnolia-) You've missed my point completely. I'm not referring to large forums, since they were mostly established before SN.

Lets say you want to start a forum now... Regardless of the topic, how much interest would it get?

Here's a clue... None.

 

[Van Hellseek]

But that's always been the way Van Hellseek. There's always too many forums and communities springing up. Even before AOL hit the internet it was that way.

/\ No, not to the degree it is these days. If you really believe that you haven't been using the internet for as long as us olbies (15+years).

 

[Van Hellseek]

Seek doesn't like other opinions. That's me in the corner, all covered in surprise.

Nice argument. Wonderful debating with you bro.

Remember my earlier comment about forums being reduced to elitist *****s? Seems Very relevant right now...