Imgur: Difference between revisions
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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. | 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=== | ===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> | 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 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222002112/https://imgur.com/privacy |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
===Business Model=== | ===Business Model=== | ||
Imgur gains revenue via advertisements seen by consumers. Payment is provided by the companies which pay for advertising space on Imgur’s website. | Imgur gains revenue via advertisements seen by consumers. Payment is provided by the companies which pay for advertising space on Imgur’s website. | ||
| Line 31: | Line 31: | ||
<blockquote>Further Reading: [[Advertising overload]]</blockquote> | <blockquote>Further Reading: [[Advertising overload]]</blockquote> | ||
[[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]] | [[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> | 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 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251113230134/https://imgur.com/gallery/so-many-ads-J39ioLs Archived])</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 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251017200912/https://imgur.com/gallery/no-wonder-we-have-so-many-trouble-with-ads-on-imgur-NgB8lVO Archived])</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> | 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> | ||
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===Mass layoffs damaging functionality=== | ===Mass layoffs damaging functionality=== | ||
When Imgur was acquired by [[MediaLab AI, Inc.|MediaLab]], it subsequently underwent significant staff cuts, including layoffs affecting its human moderation and other operations teams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Imgur protest covers the front page in anti-MediaLab memes |website=Engadget |date=2025-08-25 |url=https://www.engadget.com/apps/imgur-protest-covers-the-front-page-in-anti-medialab-memes-225502091.html |access-date=2026-02-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Imgur's Community Is In Full Revolt Against Its Owner |website=Slashdot |date=2025-08-28 |url=https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/08/28/1816210/imgurs-community-is-in-full-revolt-against-its-owner |access-date=2026-02-20}}</ref> 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" /> | When Imgur was acquired by [[MediaLab AI, Inc.|MediaLab]], it subsequently underwent significant staff cuts, including layoffs affecting its human moderation and other operations teams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Imgur protest covers the front page in anti-MediaLab memes |website=Engadget |date=2025-08-25 |url=https://www.engadget.com/apps/imgur-protest-covers-the-front-page-in-anti-medialab-memes-225502091.html |access-date=2026-02-20 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260113232937/https://www.engadget.com/apps/imgur-protest-covers-the-front-page-in-anti-medialab-memes-225502091.html |archive-date=13 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Imgur's Community Is In Full Revolt Against Its Owner |website=Slashdot |date=2025-08-28 |url=https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/08/28/1816210/imgurs-community-is-in-full-revolt-against-its-owner |access-date=2026-02-20 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250918053650/https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/08/28/1816210/imgurs-community-is-in-full-revolt-against-its-owner |archive-date=18 Sep 2025}}</ref> 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 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260113232937/https://www.engadget.com/apps/imgur-protest-covers-the-front-page-in-anti-medialab-memes-225502091.html |archive-date=13 Jan 2026}}</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 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260206183519/https://www.404media.co/imgurs-community-is-in-full-revolt-against-its-owner/ |archive-date=6 Feb 2026}}</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" /> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 05:30, 23 February 2026
Imgur
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 |
| Legal Structure | Private |
| Industry | Media Hosting |
| Also known as | |
| Official website | https://imgur.com/ |
Imgur is both a media company and image sharing platform turned social media platform founded by Alan Schaaf in 2009. The platform was initially intended to act as a format for users on Reddit to share images. It has been owned by MediaLab AI, Inc. since its acquisition in 2021.[1]
Consumer impact summary
User Freedom
Users can upload content to the platform, however it cannot be used as a content delivery network (CDN) as per their TOS,[2] 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.[3]
Business Model
Imgur gains revenue via advertisements seen by consumers. Payment is provided by the companies which pay for advertising space on Imgur’s website.
Market Control
There is limited competition in the web-empowered photo-sharing field, which allows Imgur to dominate.
Incidents
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the Imgur category.
Binding arbitration (Nov 28, 2021)
Shortly after MediaLab acquired Imgur in 2021 they updated their TOS[2] to include a binding arbitration notice:
These Terms contain a binding arbitration provision and class action waiver terms. Unless you opt out or there is a suit in small claims court, you and we agree to submit disputes to a neutral arbitrator and not to sue in court in front of a judge or jury.
Advertising overload
Further Reading: Advertising overload
While initially introduced as a method for keeping the platform up amid increasing server costs since the 2010s,[4] for nearly a decade, users have been complaining about a large amount of advertisements on both the website and especially the mobile app.[5][6][7]
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.[8] Additionally malicious advertisers historically took advantage of unmitigated JavaScript vulnerabilities to cause their advertisements to immediately redirect a user's browser to their website,[6] with one user reporting being redirected to a phishing website.[9]
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.[10] The reason stated was due to these being "old, unused, and inactive content", though artistic nudity was not affected by these changes.[11] Some users on Reddit mentioned this move as "a full Tumblr", with others calling Imgur "completely dead" after this change is implemented.[12]
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).[13] Reddit and Imgur allegedly tailored the experience for children aged 13-17 by estimating or verifying their age.[14]
Mass layoffs damaging functionality
When Imgur was acquired by MediaLab, it subsequently underwent significant staff cuts, including layoffs affecting its human moderation and other operations teams.[15][16] This has led to users on the platform facing features frequently breaking, and with the firing of its community management in July 2025,[17] 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.[18][19] Instead of communicating with the community about the problem, the remaining moderation instead punished users on the platform.[19] Protest content published to platform has ranged from images of John Oliver to not safe for work content.[19]
See also
References
- ↑ "Celebrating Imgur's Next Chapter". imgur. 2021. Archived from the original on 14 Nov 2025. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Imgur TOS". Imgur.com. November 28, 2022. Archived from the original on Jan 13, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
- ↑ "Privacy Policy". Imgur. Archived from the original on 22 Feb 2026. Retrieved 13 Aug 2025.
- ↑ Imgur staff (Apr 4, 2016). "About Ads on Imgur". Imgur blog. Archived from the original on Sep 12, 2016. Retrieved Mar 5, 2025.
- ↑ https://imgur.com/gallery/so-many-ads-J39ioLs (Archived)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 https://imgur.com/gallery/i-keep-getting-pop-ups-whole-browsing-on-phone-9kBpBWP
- ↑ https://imgur.com/gallery/no-wonder-we-have-so-many-trouble-with-ads-on-imgur-NgB8lVO (Archived)
- ↑ arandompenguin (Jul 3, 2016). "Imgur and Ads: A Controversy". Imgur. Archived from the original on Mar 5, 2025. Retrieved Mar 4, 2025.
- ↑ BaldBandit (Jul 2, 2016). "This is not acceptable". imgur. Archived from the original on Mar 5, 2025. Retrieved Mar 5, 2025.
- ↑ Purdy, Kevin (Apr 20, 2023). "Hosting site Imgur will remove explicit and anonymous content next month". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on Apr 20, 2023. Retrieved Mar 5, 2025.
- ↑ Moon, Mariella (Apr 20, 2023). "Imgur to ban explicit images and delete uploads not tied to an account". engadget. Archived from the original on Dec 25, 2024. Retrieved Mar 5, 2025.
- ↑ u/RamonaLittle (Apr 20, 2023). "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". Reddit. Archived from the original on Apr 27, 2023. Retrieved Mar 5, 2025.
- ↑ Landi, Martyn (Mar 3, 2025). "TikTok and others investigated over use of children's data". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on Mar 5, 2025. Retrieved Mar 5, 2025.
- ↑ Landi, Martyn (Mar 3, 2025). "TikTok, Reddit and Imgur investigated over the use of children's data". Machester Evening News via Yahoo. Archived from the original on Mar 5, 2025. Retrieved Mar 5, 2025.
- ↑ "Imgur protest covers the front page in anti-MediaLab memes". Engadget. 2025-08-25. Archived from the original on 13 Jan 2026. Retrieved 2026-02-20.
- ↑ "Imgur's Community Is In Full Revolt Against Its Owner". Slashdot. 2025-08-28. Archived from the original on 18 Sep 2025. Retrieved 2026-02-20.
- ↑ Nelson, Travis (Aug 26, 2025). "A little story about a site called Imgur". BlueSky. Retrieved Aug 30, 2025.
- ↑ Washenko, Anna (Aug 25, 2025). "Imgur protest covers the front page in anti-MediaLab memes". Engadget. Archived from the original on 13 Jan 2026. Retrieved Aug 26, 2025.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Galt, Matthew (Aug 28, 2025). "Imgur's Community Is In Full Revolt Against Its Owner". 404 Media. Archived from the original on 6 Feb 2026. Retrieved Aug 30, 2025.