8chan: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 19:46, 25 November 2014
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| File:InfiniteChan∞chanLogo.svg The ∞chan logo of 8chan.co | |
Type of site | Imageboard |
|---|---|
| Available in | English, Japanese (users can create language specific boards) |
| Owner | Fredrick Brennan |
| URL | 8chan |
| Commercial | No |
| Registration | None available |
8chan (also called Infinitechan and stylized as ∞chan) is an English-language imageboard website organized by a virtually limitless number of user-created boards. Each one is governed independently from each other by the site's users, who generally post anonymously, with the most recent posts appearing above the rest. Registration is not required, nor is it possible (except for staff).[2] An official Japanese-language variant is available by the name 8ch.[3]
The site has received both praise and criticism from various parties for its stance on open free speech with minimal restrictions. It allows any topic to be discussed, and all content to be posted, regardless of whether it may be controversial. The only provision is that all content posted must not violate United States law.
One of the site's boards has played an active role during the Gamergate controversy after the topic was banned on the unaffiliated website 4chan, resulting in a migration of users. As of November 2014, the site has received an average of 35,000 unique visitors per day and 400,000 posts per week.[4]
Background
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (November 2014) |
8chan was created on October 22, 2013 by computer programmer Fredrick Brennan while living in Brooklyn, New York.[citation needed] Brennan had recently relocated from Atlantic City after receiving an offer to work as the lead programmer at a company that makes Web-marketing projects for small businesses.[5] The website was created after Brennan perceived a loss of free speech on the Internet.[4] Brennan, who considers the imageboard 4chan to have grown into authoritarianism, describes 8chan as a "free-speech-friendly" alternative.[4] No experience or programming knowledge is necessary for users to create their own boards.[2] Since as early as March 2014, its FAQ has stated only one rule that is to be globally enforced: "Do not post, request, or link to any content illegal in the United States of America. Do not create boards with the sole purpose of posting or spreading such content."[2]
In the opinion of Brennan, while he finds some of the content posted by users to be "reprehensible," he feels personally obligated to uphold the site's integrity by tolerating discussion he doesn't necessarily support regardless of his moral stance.[4] He argues that this premise is what makes 8chan unique, adding: "Once you get past all of the terrible content posted by teenagers to feel cool, you get to very interesting discussions and opinions that could simply not happen on Reddit or Facebook."[4]
In September 2014, the website gained prominence in the GamerGate controversy after 4chan banned discussion of GamerGate.[4][6][7] GamerGate supporters have been cited as using its "/gg/ - GamerGate" board among other sites to organize their operations,[6] and 8chan has been cited as the "unofficial headquarters for the online #GamerGate movement." .[4][6]
Brennan agreed to partner 8chan with the Japanese message board 2channel[citation needed] and subsequently relocated to the Phillipines in October 2014.[6]
Media response
There are allegations that a portion of the 8chan userbase had harassed and attacked notable women online within the realm of video game culture.[4] These attacks – reported to have sourced from 8chan – forced some to flee their homes.[8]
Numerous boards have been created to discuss controversial topics, among those pedophilia, though the sharing of sexually explicit photos of minors is against site rules, per United States laws regarding child pornography.[4] The site’s biggest boards are not pedophile-centric. Instead, many of 8chan’s most active boards are political.[4] When asked on whether free speech had the consequence of such boards, Brennan responded, "Unfortunately, yes, I don’t support the content on the boards you mentioned, but it is simply the cost of free speech and being the only active site to not impose more 'laws' than those that were passed in Washington, D.C."[4]
References
- ^ "8chan.co Site Info". Alexa Internet. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
- ^ a b c Brennan, Fredrick. "FAQ". 8chan.co. Infinitechan. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
- ^ Brennan, Fredrik. "∞chan". 8ch.net (in Japanese). 8c. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Howell O'Neill, Patrick (November 17, 2014). "8chan, the central hive of Gamergate, is also an active pedophile network". The Daily Dot.
- ^ "A day in the life of a man with brittle bone disease". Al Jazeera.
- ^ a b c d Chen, Adrian (October 27, 2014). "Gamergate Supporters Partied at a Strip Club This Weekend". New York (magazine).
- ^ Audureau, William (October 15, 2014). "4chan, wizardchan, 8chan... s'y retrouver dans la jungle des forums anonymes les plus populaires du Web" (in French). France: Le Monde.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Stuart, Keith (October 17, 2014). "Brianna Wu and the human cost of Gamergate: 'every woman I know in the industry is scared'". The Guardian.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|work=(help)