Imgur: Difference between revisions

| Founded       = 2009

| Industry     = Media Hosting

| Logo         = Imgur.svg

| ParentCompany = MediaLab AI, Inc.

| Type         = Private

| Website       = https://imgur.com/

MediaLab AI--> since its acquisition in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=Celebrating Imgur's Next Chapter |url=https://imgur.com/gallery/celebrating-imgurs-next-chapter-We6yCM2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/rPEUq |archive-date=2025-07-12 |access-date=2025-07-12 |website=imgur}}</ref>

*User Freedom: Users can upload content to the platform, however it cannot be used as a content delivery network (CDN) as per their TOS,<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=November 28, 2022 |title=Imgur TOS |url=https://imgur.com/tos |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230113071334/https://imgur.com/tos |archive-date=Jan 13, 2023 |access-date=March 3, 2025 |website=Imgur.com}}</ref> despite its initial purpose being as such.

*User Privacy: Automatically collects device information, which includes device ID (for mobile devices), operating system, IP address. Uses technology such as tracking cookies to improve the "server's interaction with your device" alongside third-party advertisements.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Privacy Policy |url=https://imgur.com/privacy |access-date=13 Aug 2025 |website=Imgur}}</ref>

*Business Model: Gain revenue via advertisements seen by consumers

*Market Control: Limited competition

[[File:Ad_Overload_Imgur.png|thumb|An example of how frequent advertisements are for users on Imgur. Via: https://imgur.com/gallery/too-many-ads-9vzuP7x]]

While initially introduced as a method for keeping the platform up amid increasing server costs since the 2010s,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Imgur staff |date=Apr 4, 2016 |title=About Ads on Imgur |url=https://blog.imgur.com/2016/04/04/ads-and-the-apps/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912072231/https://blog.imgur.com/2016/04/04/ads-and-the-apps/ |archive-date=Sep 12, 2016 |access-date=Mar 5, 2025 |work=Imgur blog}}</ref> for nearly a decade, users have been complaining about a large amount of advertisements on both the website and especially the mobile app.<ref>https://imgur.com/gallery/so-many-ads-J39ioLs</ref><ref name=":1">https://imgur.com/gallery/i-keep-getting-pop-ups-whole-browsing-on-phone-9kBpBWP</ref><ref>https://imgur.com/gallery/no-wonder-we-have-so-many-trouble-with-ads-on-imgur-NgB8lVO</ref>

Their negligence to also moderate advertisements has also led to ads of dubious quality to also be seen on both the website and mobile app.<ref>{{Cite news |last=arandompenguin |date=Jul 3, 2016 |title=Imgur and Ads: A Controversy |url=https://imgur.com/gallery/imgur-ads-controversy-8Mk43 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250305205210/https://imgur.com/gallery/imgur-ads-controversy-8Mk43 |archive-date=Mar 5, 2025 |access-date=Mar 4, 2025 |work=Imgur}}</ref> Additionally malicious advertisers historically took advantage of unmitigated JavaScript vulnerabilities to cause their advertisements to immediately redirect a user's browser to their website,<ref name=":1" /> with one user reporting being redirected to a phishing website.<ref>{{Cite web |last=BaldBandit |first= |date=Jul 2, 2016 |title=This is not acceptable. |url=https://imgur.com/gallery/this-is-not-acceptable-dMytYzc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250305202630/https://imgur.com/gallery/this-is-not-acceptable-dMytYzc |archive-date=Mar 5, 2025 |access-date=Mar 5, 2025 |website=imgur}}</ref>

===Removal of anonymous images (2023)===

In April 2023, Imgur notified users they will start removing explicit pornographic images and ones uploaded anonymously on May 15.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Purdy |first=Kevin |date=Apr 20, 2023 |title=Hosting site Imgur will remove explicit and anonymous content next month |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/04/hosting-site-imgur-will-remove-explicit-and-anonymous-content-next-month/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420171637/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/04/hosting-site-imgur-will-remove-explicit-and-anonymous-content-next-month/ |archive-date=Apr 20, 2023 |access-date=Mar 5, 2025 |work=Ars Technica}}</ref> The reason stated was due to these being "old, unused, and inactive content", though artistic nudity was not affected by these changes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moon |first=Mariella |date=Apr 20, 2023 |title=Imgur to ban explicit images and delete uploads not tied to an account |url=https://www.engadget.com/imgur-to-ban-explicit-images-and-delete-uploads-not-tied-to-an-account-122537118.html?guccounter=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225023935/https://www.engadget.com/imgur-to-ban-explicit-images-and-delete-uploads-not-tied-to-an-account-122537118.html |archive-date=Dec 25, 2024 |access-date=Mar 5, 2025 |work=engadget}}</ref> Some users on [[Reddit]] mentioned this move as "a full [[Tumblr]]", with others calling Imgur "completely dead" after this change is implemented.<ref>{{Cite news |last=u/RamonaLittle |date=Apr 20, 2023 |title=Imgur has announced that they will be "removing old, unused, and inactive content that is not tied to a user account from our platform." This means that a *huge* number of images linked from reddit will become dead links. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/TheoryOfReddit/comments/12tinfp/imgur_has_announced_that_they_will_be_removing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230427010856/https://old.reddit.com/r/TheoryOfReddit/comments/12tinfp/imgur_has_announced_that_they_will_be_removing/ |archive-date=Apr 27, 2023 |access-date=Mar 5, 2025 |work=Reddit}}</ref>

===Child data usage (2025)===

On March 3, 2025, it was reported that Imgur, along with [[Reddit]] and [[TikTok]] were being investigated by the [[British Information Commissioner’s Office]] (ICO).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Landi |first=Martyn |date=Mar 3, 2025 |title=TikTok and others investigated over use of children’s data |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-41585470.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250305214845/https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-41585470.html |archive-date=Mar 5, 2025 |access-date=Mar 5, 2025 |work=Irish Examiner |ref=Landi-2025-article-1}}</ref> [[Reddit]] and Imgur allegedly tailored the experience for children aged 13-17 by estimating or verifying their age.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Landi |first=Martyn |date=Mar 3, 2025 |title=TikTok, Reddit and Imgur investigated over the use of children's data |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/tiktok-reddit-imgur-investigated-over-092202216.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250305215130/https://consent.yahoo.com/v2/collectConsent?sessionId=2_cc-session_f472bd30-fd21-4964-be45-27dbac0d4610 |archive-date=Mar 5, 2025 |access-date=Mar 5, 2025 |work=Machester Evening News via Yahoo |ref=Landi-2025-article-2}}</ref><!--Note: Yahoos JS breaks IA, someone will need to likely use the extension for the Wayback machine for people to archive this URL!-->

===Mass layoffs damaging functionality===

When the platform was bought out by [[MediaLab AI, Inc.|MediaLab]], it faced multiple rounds of mass layoffs in the years since.{{Citation needed}} This has led to users on the platform facing features frequently breaking, and with the firing of its community management in July 2025,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Travis |date=Aug 26, 2025 |title=A little story about a site called Imgur. |url=https://bsky.app/profile/sigirides.bsky.social/post/3lxcjdm7ouk2v |access-date=Aug 30, 2025 |website=BlueSky}}</ref> the platform additionally had its transparency eliminated, eventually causing mass-revolts in late August 2025, when the notification feature on the platform was left non-functioning for 3 days.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Washenko |first=Anna |date=Aug 25, 2025 |title=Imgur protest covers the front page in anti-MediaLab memes |url=https://www.engadget.com/apps/imgur-protest-covers-the-front-page-in-anti-medialab-memes-225502091.html |access-date=Aug 26, 2025 |work=Engadget}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Galt |first=Matthew |date=Aug 28, 2025 |title=Imgur's Community Is In Full Revolt Against Its Owner |url=https://www.404media.co/imgurs-community-is-in-full-revolt-against-its-owner/ |access-date=Aug 30, 2025 |work=404 Media}}</ref> Instead of communicating with the community about the problem, the remaining moderation instead punished users on the platform.<ref name=":0" /> Protest content published to platform has ranged from images of John Oliver to not safe for work content.<ref name=":0" />