4chan: Difference between revisions

'''4chan''' is a widely known English-language imageboard [[website]], which was created by ''[[wikipedia:Christopher Poole|Christopher Poole]]'', who is also known as "moot", in October 2003.<ref name="readwrite">Larson, S. (2018, September 29). [https://readwrite.com/2013/11/04/4chan-moot-christopher-pool-qa/ "4chan's Christopher Poole: I was a teenage coder-and then I stopped."] ReadWrite. Retrieved December 9, 2021.</ref><ref name="cnbc">Elias, J. (2021, April 23). [https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/22/4chan-founder-chris-poole-moot-has-left-google.html "4chan founder Chris Poole has left google"]. CNBC. Retrieved December 9, 2021.</ref><ref name="The Guardian">Wong, J. C. (2016, March 8). [https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/mar/07/chris-poole-4chan-google-hire-social-media "Google hires founder of 4chan, the 'Zuckerberg of Online Underground'"]. [[wikipedia:The Guardian|The Guardian]]. Retrieved December 9, 2021.</ref><ref name="The New York Times">Bilton, N. (2010, March 19). [https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/19/one-on-one-christopher-poole-founder-of-4chan/ "One on one: Christopher Poole, founder of 4chan"]. [[wikipedia:The New York Times|The New York Times]]. Retrieved December 9, 2021.</ref><ref name="Forbes">Ewalt, D. M. (2011, August 11). [https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2011/03/13/4chans-christopher-poole-why-anonymity-rules/ "4chan's Christopher Poole: Why anonymity rules"]. [[wikipedia:Forbes|Forbes]]. Retrieved December 9, 2021.</ref> The website [[hosts]] various boards that cater to diverse topics such as anime, manga, video games, music, literature, fitness, politics, and more. One of the unique features of the website is that users can post content anonymously. Threads on the website are also given a bump limit, which archives a thread once a certain number of posts have been reached. 4chan has been infamous for its controversial content.  

The site has several boards, and some boards like "[[wikipedia:/b/|/b/]]" (random) are notorious for hosting offensive and shocking material. Due to its anonymous nature, 4chan has become a platform for activism, trolling, and pranksters, with users frequently participating in raids, hacking, and creating viral content and memes. The website has been associated with several internet subcultures and is credited with creating several memes, including "[[wikipedia:Rickrolling|Rickrolling]]". Despite its popularity, 4chan has received criticism for its role in spreading hate speech, harassment, and misinformation. The site's moderation policies have also been a topic of debate. Some argue that the site's lack of moderation promotes free speech and creativity, while others criticize it for promoting toxic behavior and allowing illegal activities to thrive. Nevertheless, 4chan remains a popular platform with millions of visitors every month.

''4chan'' is a simple image-based bulletin board website that has been active since 2003. Founded by ''Christopher Poole'', known by his online pseudonym "moot", the site features various boards dedicated to specific topics.<ref name="readwrite" /><ref name="cnbc" /><ref name="The Guardian" /><ref name="The New York Times" /> Users can share and comment on images and content anonymously, with each board having its own set of rules and culture. The site became popular for its unique and often controversial content, which includes memes, viral images, and discussions on a wide range of topics, from technology and politics to anime and video games. 4chan's userbase is renowned for their humorous and often irreverent posts, with users communicating in internet slang and acronyms. The site has been home to many internet memes, some of which have gone on to become popular mainstream memes, such as "Pepe the Frog". However, the site has also gained notoriety for its darker side, with some boards hosting content that is considered obscene or illegal. The /b/ board is particularly infamous for its shocking and disturbing content. In addition to its controversial content, 4chan has been associated with various online movements and subcultures, including the hacktivist group Anonymous and the alt-right. The site's userbase has been both praised for its creativity and criticized for its role in spreading hate speech and extremist ideologies. The site has also been linked to various internet pranks and hoaxes, such as the "Rickrolling" meme. Despite its controversial reputation, 4chan remains a popular and influential website with millions of visitors every month. Its impact on internet culture and subcultures has been widely recognized, making it an important part of the online landscape.

[[Screamers]] and [[shock sites]] are two different types of [[internet screamers|online pranks]] that have been associated with the controversial imageboard website. Screamers are pranks that involve a sudden and loud noise or image designed to startle or scare the viewer, and are often shared on ''4chan'' as [[reaction videos]] or as a trolling tool. While not all content on 4chan is related to screamers, the site remains a popular destination for those looking for anonymous discussion and sharing of various media, including screamers. On the other hand, shock sites are websites that contain explicit and graphic content, such as violent or sexual imagery, gore, and other disturbing material, designed to shock or disgust the viewer. 4chan users have been known to post links to shock sites on the website's boards, often as a form of trolling or to provoke a reaction from other users. Some of the most well-known shock sites associated with ''4chan'' include "[[Meatspin]]" "[[Lemon Party]]" and "[[Goatse.cx]]" which have become infamous within the ''4chan'' community and have been used as a way to shock and troll other users.

*4chan.org