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4chan
Official 4chan logo
File:4chan front page.png
The main page of 4chan.org as of January 20, 2008.
Type of site
Imageboard/TextBBS
Available inEnglish, Japanese
Owner"moot"
Created by"moot"
URLhttp://www.4chan.org/
CommercialNo
RegistrationNo

4chan is an English language imageboard based on the Japanese imageboard Futaba Channel. This imageboard is based primarily around the posting of pictures (generally related to anime, manga, and popular culture) and their discussion. It is known mostly for its '/b/' board, said to be the origin of the lolcats meme.

It has received attention from the media for a number of reasons, including posts sporting terrorist threats against schools and sports stadiums, attacks against Hal Turner on his Internet shows and denial-of-service attacks against eBaum's World.

History

4chan was founded as a project by "moot", a member of the Something Awful forums.[1][2] His website soon attracted anime fans around the world and has grown greatly since its creation,[3] eventually surpassing Futaba Channel in traffic. It is currently ranking 320th amongst other websites globally, and 70th in the United States.[4]

In 2005, the lolcat internet meme was started on 4chan as "Caturday", Saturdays on which users would post pictures of cats, eventually adding image macros to them.[5][6]

Sometime after April 22 2007, links to the song "Chocolate Rain" by Tay Zonday on YouTube were posted on the website. Zonday believes this is what lead to his initial popularity.[7][8]

Layout

The activity of 4chan takes place on discussion boards, image and upload boards, and drawing boards. Currently, there are thirty-five different image boards, covering topics ranging from anime, weapons, and photography to real and animated pornography. Eight of these were "trial boards" until January 9, 2007, when all of them except the sports board were upgraded to permanent boards; the sports board was discarded.[9] On February 15, 2007 the site added two new trial boards called Paranormal and Traditional Games.[10]

Other boards include an oekaki board, an Artwork/Critique board, an upload board which is used for the uploading and discussion of Flash movies, and nineteen text-based discussion boards. The discussion boards were once hosted on a separate site called "world4ch" (pronounced world four channel) as an homage to the defunct world2ch, which itself was a website intending to be an earlier attempt to create an English version of 2channel, until they moved to the subdomain dis.4chan.org.

Because 4chan is provided to its users free of charge and consumes a large amount of bandwidth, its financing often becomes problematic. To avoid long periods of downtime caused by a severe lack of funds, such as the four "deaths" that plagued the site during its first year of existence, the 4chan staff regularly requests donations.[9] However, there have been numerous problems relating to the use of several different online payment services,[9] including PayPal, YowCow, and the Authorize.Net payment gateway. The pornographic content hosted on 4chan violated the terms of services of various payment receiving services and so they refused to allow 4chan to use their services.[9]

/b/

The "random" board, /b/, is based on the Nijiura board of Futaba Channel. It is by far 4chan's most popular board, as confirmed by statistics released by 4chan staff and by the publicly available post count. As of January 4, 2008, /b/'s post count has surpassed 50,000,000 posts whereas most of the other boards have yet to break 250,000. Only nine other boards (/a/, /co/, /v/, /k/, /m/, /r/, /s/, /h/ and /tg/) have accumulated more than 1,000,000 posts (/a/ and /v/ each having over 9,000,000). After /b/'s 31,000,000th post was made on June 16, 2007, it took just 9 days to accumulate another 1,000,000, meaning /b/'s posting rate had attained an average of more than 111,000 posts per day. Certain post numbers, such as 12345678 and 22222222, and the aforementioned milestones, are sought after, with a large amount of posting taking place to "GET" them.[11]

/b/ is known to officially have a "no rules" policy, save for a ban on certain illegal content, such as child pornography and invasions of other websites, both of which are inherited from site-wide rules.[12]

The humor of /b/'s many users, who refer to themselves as "/b/tards",[13] is frequently characterized by intricate inside jokes and black comedy. Newcomers and outsiders often find posts incomprehensible, though Encyclopedia Dramatica is known to provide some explanations. Besides lolcats, memes include the 'FBI party van' for legal issues.[14]

Anonymity

4chan is an anonymous BBS which does not require the user to supply any personal information, such as a name or email address, before being able to post messages. Unlike most web forums, 4chan does not have any kind of registration system. While the /b/ board currently forces all users to be anonymous, on the other boards the poster can use any nickname to his or her liking, making it possible to post under the name of someone else by simply entering his or her name into the posting form. Nonetheless, most users post anonymously. In place of registration, 4chan has provided tripcodes as an optional form of authenticating a poster's identity.[15] As the concept of anonymous posting is a defining feature of Futaba-like imageboards, the use of tripcodes generates controversy among 4chan users. Many posters who use them risk being singled out and ridiculed, often with the use of derogatory terms such as "tripfag." As anonymous posting causes posts to be attributed to "Anonymous," a running gag on 4chan is the idea that Anonymous is in fact a single person or the true name of the posters.

Moderators will generally post without a name even when banning users or posting information. In this case, the post is attributed to "Anonymous ## Mod" (though even moderators are sometimes known to simply post as "Anonymous"). The primary exception is when 4chan's founder "moot" posts information relating to changes in the site.

Media attention

Ebaumsworld attacks

In 2006, users of 4chan, YTMND, Something Awful and Newgrounds participated in attack against eBaum's World. This resulted in the forums going offline.[16][17]

Blocks in the UK

Access to /b/ was blocked to customers of NTL, BT Broadband and UK Online in early June 2006.[18] For some users, access to /r/, /s/, and /t/ was also affected. While moderators attempt to remove instances of illegal content as soon as possible, as well as ban the individuals responsible for them, the prevalence of such content has led systems like Cleanfeed to blacklist the site. The 4chan terms of service and FAQ also state that illegal material (e.g. child pornography, posting of personal information, invasions of other Internet communities, etc.) will not be tolerated, and will be punished appropriately.[12][15] Moderators have also recently taken stronger measures against illicit content. For example, on July 12, 2006, a reporting system was implemented on all of 4chan's image, upload, and oekaki boards, allowing any user to 'report' a post that contains illegal material, or material that violates 4chan's terms of use. On August 23, 2006, the moderators of /b/ began enforcing previously neglected rules regarding sexually suggestive pictures of under-age teenagers, invasions of other websites, and posting of personal information. Infractions would now result in bans applied to the original poster and anyone posting in the thread, whether he or she supported the content or not. Many users of /b/ responded by attacking /b/ with automatic floods and spam.

Some suspect that the blocks are related to the efforts of the Internet Watch Foundation; however, the "IWF-led block" theory has several discrepancies. Firstly, the Internet service providers (ISP) that continue to block /b/ are BT Internet and NTL, with UKOnline appearing to have removed its restriction after a few weeks. Secondly, the IWF themselves confirmed that "no part of the URL for the site 4chan.org is included in our live database."[19] Investigations by 4chan users have revealed that BT's support teams claim to have no knowledge of a block on any part of the URL 4chan.org.[20] Finally, the BT block on /b/ has evolved, with new workarounds redirected to the ban page or a nondescript 404 within mere hours of being discovered.[21] These blocks also have an erratic nature, apparently having been suddenly lifted, but reinstated days later, only to be lifted again within an equally short time period.[18] However, some of the perceived inconsistencies in this theory are directly contradicted by claims made by 4chan's staff and other sources. For example, on August 5, 2006, while being filmed during a 4chan panel at Otakon in which he was fielding questions from the audience, moot, the owner of 4chan, stated that the blockings of /b/ and some of the other boards have indeed been a result of the Cleanfeed system. /b/'s front page has also been removed from Google search results due to a notice sent by the IWF to Google.[22][23]

NFL bomb threat hoax

File:Jakebrahmthread.jpg
The original threat posted on September 18, 2006 by Brahm.

On October 18, 2006 the Department of Homeland Security warned NFL officials in Miami, New York City, Atlanta, Seattle, Houston, Oakland, and Cleveland about a possible threat involving the simultaneous use of dirty bombs at stadiums in those cities.[24] The threat claimed that the attack would be carried out on October 22, the final day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.[25] Both the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security expressed doubt concerning the credibility of the threats, but still warned the relevant organizations as a precaution. The games proceeded as planned but under a higher level of security awareness.

The threats came to light in the national media after they were reposted on 4chan's /b/ more than forty times by Jake Brahm between September 18 and October 19 of 2006.[26] The threat was originally posted on TheFriendSociety.com. The site crashed due to a high volume of traffic incurred after CNN posted a link to it, and it was reposted on 4chan and soon became associated with that site.[27]

On October 20, 2006, Brahm turned himself in to federal authorities. He was charged with fabricating a fake terrorist threat and was taken into custody by police.[28] If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.[29]

Hal Turner

In December 2006 and January 2007, individuals who identified themselves as /b/tards "raided" white nationalist Hal Turner, taking his site offline, and costing thousands of dollars of bandwidth bills according to Turner. Turner retaliated by sending a "formal legal notice of criminal activity in violation of several federal laws" by email to 7chan, multacom, and multicom, as well as redirecting his domain to 420chan.org causing that site to take a bandwidth hit as well.[13][30][31] He also sued 4chan, 7chan, and other websites in court over copyright infringement; however, he lost his plea for an injunction and failed to receive letters from the court.[32]

False claims of responsibility

Immediately following widely publicised killings, particularly school shootings, false claims of responsibility have surfaced on 4chan - supported by fake and back-dated screenshots of the killer writing that he is about to commit murder/suicide at the location. For example, while news of the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre was breaking, some news sources reported that the killer had posted about his plans on 4chan. Most such news reports were quietly removed once it became clear that the post was a hoax, but several months later some such reports still remained posted without retraction.[33]

KTTV Fox 11 News report

On July 26, 2007, KTTV Fox 11 News based in Los Angeles, California aired a report on "Anonymous", calling them a group of "hackers on steroids" and "domestic terrorists". The report covered an attack on a MySpace user, who claimed to have had his MySpace account hacked into by "Anonymous", and plastered with gay pornography images uploaded by the hackers. The MySpace user also claimed a virus written by "Anonymous" hackers was sent to him and to ninety friends on his MySpace contact list, crashing thirty-two of his friends' computers. The report also featured an anonymous former "hacker" who had fallen out with "Anonymous" and explained his view of "Anonymous" culture.[34]

In addition, the report also mentioned "raids" on Habbo Hotel, a "national campaign to spoil the new Harry Potter book ending", and threats to "bomb sports stadiums".[34]

Pflugerville High School terrorist threat

File:4chan Pflugerville bomb threat.png
The Pflugerville threat.

Around midnight on September 11, 2007, a student posted photos of mock-pipe bombs and another photo of him holding them whilst claiming he would blow up his high school at 9:11 a.m. on Sept. 11. People on 4chan[35][36] helped track him down by finding the perpetrator's father's name in the Exif data of a photograph he took, and contacted the police. He was arrested before school began that day.[37][38][39][40]

Stevenson school threat

On October 30, 2007, two students Jeremie Dalin, 17 and Dennis Oh, 17 posted a threat against a Stevenson High School on the website.[41][42][43][44] Oh made a screenshot or photograph of the threat and then created a web page dedicated to the threat.[45][46] The FBI traced the message, Dalin's home address, when contacted by the authorities he claimed it was a bad joke and did not intend on harming anyone.[47] The threat caused approximately 500 students to miss a school day. Dalin is due back in court on February.[48]

Melbourne gun threat

On December 8, 2007, Australian Jarrad Willis, 20, was arrested for posting a threat on 4chan to "shoot and kill as many people as I can until... I am incapacitated or killed by the police". Police investigated a possible connection to the Westroads Mall shooting, which had happened hours before, but there was no indication that Willis was in any way connected to the shooting.[49][50] Willis was charged with seven counts of obtaining property by deception over an alleged $4500 eBay scam by the end of the month.[51] The message was later copied onto the website JuicyCampus which also resulted in the arrest of Carlos Huerta.[52][53]

Scientology

Main article: Project Chanology

Some users of 4chan and other websites such as 711chan and YTMND have started an anti-Scientology campaign which is beginning to receive media attention.[54][55][56][57][58][59]

See also

References

  1. ^ "4chan News Archive". 4chan. Retrieved 2007-09-19.
  2. ^ "Funny how `stupid' site is addictive". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  3. ^ "Alexa traffic rankings". Alexa Internet. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  4. ^ "Alexa traffic rankings". Alexa Internet. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  5. ^ "Lolcats' demented captions create a new Web language", Tamara Ikenberg, The News Journal, 9 July 2007
  6. ^ "Iz not cats everywhere? Online trend spreads across campus". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  7. ^ "Make It Rain: Tay Zonday". HHNLive.com. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  8. ^ "Who is Tay Zonday?". CTVglobemedia Publishing Inc. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  9. ^ a b c d "4chan News Archive". 4chan. Retrieved 2007-01-10.
  10. ^ "4chan Blotter". 4chan. Retrieved 2007-02-16.
  11. ^ "4chan FAQ on GETs". 4chan. Retrieved 2007-03-14.
  12. ^ a b "4chan's Rules". 4chan. Retrieved 2006-08-18.
  13. ^ a b Winston, Ali (2007-01-08). "'Hate Host' is hacked". Jersey Journal. Retrieved 2007-01-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Julian Dibbell (2008-01-18). "Mutilated Furries, Flying Phalluses: Put the Blame on Griefers". Wired. Retrieved 2008-01-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ a b "4chan FAQ". 4chan. Retrieved 2006-08-18.
  16. ^ "Lindsay Lohan causes massive DoS war". Vitalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
  17. ^ "Ebaumsworld assiégé" (in French). Le Lézard. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  18. ^ a b "BT / NTL /b/ Block - Stuff we know". 4chan. Retrieved 2006-08-18.
  19. ^ "BT / NTL /b/ Block - Stuff we know.-Reply #86". 4chan. Retrieved 2006-08-18.
  20. ^ "BT / NTL /b/ Block - Stuff we know.-Reply #127". 4chan. Retrieved 2006-08-18.
  21. ^ "BT / NTL /b/ Block - Stuff we know.-Reply #126". 4chan. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  22. ^ "http://img.4chan.org/b/imgboard.htm - Google Search". Google Search. Retrieved 2006-10-14. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  23. ^ "Child pornography complaint concerning Google search". Chilling Effects Clearinghouse. Retrieved 2006-10-13.
  24. ^ "Man charged with stadium bomb threat hoax". ABC News. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
  25. ^ "Man Charged in Internet Bomb Threats". InternetNews.com. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
  26. ^ "Wisconsin Man Is Charged in Fake NFL Stadium Threats". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
  27. ^ "New Attack on America, Be Afraid". CBS News. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  28. ^ Smothers, Ronald (2006-10-20). "Man, 20, Arrested in Stadium Threat Hoax". The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
  29. ^ "Knucklehead Nabbed In "Dirty Bomb" Hoax". thesmokinggun.com. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
  30. ^ "Cyber foes find ways to silence hate-talk radio host". freep.com. Retrieved 2007-02-28.
  31. ^ "Hal Turner Retaliates For Attack On Radio Show". Hal Turner. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
  32. ^ "Harold C. "Hal" Turner v. 4chan.org". Justia. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
  33. ^ Gunnar Johansson and Åsa Asplid (2007-04-18). ""I dag ska jag döda"". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2007-06-10.
  34. ^ a b "FOX 11 Investigates: 'Anonymous'". Fox Television Stations, Inc. Retrieved 2007-08-11.
  35. ^ "4chanarchive - Thread 39101047". 4chanarchive.com. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  36. ^ Other related threads:
  37. ^ "Pflugerville Student Arrested After Posting Bomb Threats". KXAN. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  38. ^ "Police Investigate Bomb Threat at Pflugerville High School". Fox Television Stations, Inc. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  39. ^ "Teen arrested for threatening to blow up school". TWEAN News Channel of Austin, L.P. d.b.a. News 8 Austin. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  40. ^ "Juvenile arrested in Pflugerville H.S. bomb threat". KVUE.com. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  41. ^ "Threat to 'Stevenson' a hoax: FBIBlogger upsets same-name high schools in three states". Sun-Times News Group. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  42. ^ "Caught in the Web". Sun-Times News Group. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  43. ^ "Full Images of Teens". Sun-Times News Group. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  44. ^ "Stevenson threat shouldn't go to trial". Daily Herald Inc. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  45. ^ "Stevenson victim of hoax". Digital Chicago, Inc. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  46. ^ "4chan - Google News Archive". Google. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  47. ^ "Teen charged with school-violence threat". Northwest Herald. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  48. ^ "Teen Pleads Not Guilty to Stevenson Threat". 1220 WKRS. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  49. ^ "Net shooting threat: Australian man held". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2006-12-14.
  50. ^ "Student faces jail over online joke". Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved 2006-12-14.
  51. ^ "Aussies hooked on Facebook, MySpace and YouTube". HeraldSun. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  52. ^ Cleaning up the juice (cached)
  53. ^ Cleaning up the juice (updated version)
  54. ^ Ryan Singel, War Breaks Out Between Hackers and Scientology -- There Can Be Only One, Wired.com, 2008-01-23
  55. ^ wikinews:"Anonymous" releases statements outlining "War on Scientology"
  56. ^ Internet group declares war on Scientology
  57. ^ The Junk Drawer at The Michigan daily
  58. ^ http://blogs.usatoday.com/techspace/2008/01/threatening-the.html
  59. ^ http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,325586,00.html

External links

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