Post 1772574 by mattskala@mstdn.io
 (DIR) More posts by mattskala@mstdn.io
 (DIR) Post #1769961 by n@mastodon.technology
       2018-12-06T12:44:40Z
       
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       I joined Tumblr early on, and got the username "nate" in 2008. Since then I've been propositioned and even threatened by folks who wanted my username handed to them.So maybe I'm one of the few who aren't too sad about Tumblr losing some popularity. Then again, I was never more than an infrequent visitor/poster.
       
 (DIR) Post #1769962 by n@mastodon.technology
       2018-12-06T12:49:14Z
       
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       But the lifecycle pattern of sites that provide free content posting services to the general public keeps repeating itself:1) service opens, is exciting/different in some way, reaches new audiences2) popularity grows, audience widens3) business scrambles to make advertising keep up with growing costs4) sacrifices made to platform that hurt users/devs and help corporate advertisers5) site closesMany see services like facebook/twitter as permanent, but I just see them as another friendster/myspace.
       
 (DIR) Post #1772574 by mattskala@mstdn.io
       2018-12-06T15:40:35Z
       
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       @n Livejournal is an interesting point for comparison, because it was funded primarily by paid accounts instead of by advertising.  It basically followed this same cycle anyway.
       
 (DIR) Post #1773249 by n@mastodon.technology
       2018-12-06T16:08:35Z
       
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       @mattskala that's interesting, I hadn't followed what happened with Livejournal. I suppose too many free options makes paid accounts non-viable.
       
 (DIR) Post #1773827 by mattskala@mstdn.io
       2018-12-06T16:30:21Z
       
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       @n I don't think that was what killed Livejournal.  They sold the company to a Russian media conglomerate that was more interested in changing the system than in keeping the existing system working.  That alienated the existing paid users and did not attract new ones.  I think there was also an aspect of natural life cycle to it - Livejournal-type things may have lost their appeal.  Not "We can get this for free elsewhere" but "We don't actually want this anymore."
       
 (DIR) Post #1773898 by n@mastodon.technology
       2018-12-06T16:32:52Z
       
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       @mattskala ah! Interesting background. Thanks, I had no idea.