How Tumblr Tumbled: The Rise, Fall & Resurgence of Gen Z’s Favourite Platform
Edit: Yahoo bought Tumblr in 2013, not 2023 lol. I misspoke right at the start, apologies! In this week's episode, I explore the rise, fall, and recent resurgence of Tumblr— the microblogging site that defined Gen Z internet culture for years. I look at the site's origins, why it became so popular, and the lasting impact Tumblr had on the social media user experience and online trends. I also dive into some of the platform's biggest personalities, like Acacia Brinley, and popular sides of the platform both good and bad, like the pro-ana movement and the fuckyeah blogs. Find our podcast YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC18HclY7Tt5-1e3Z-MEP7Jg Subscribe to our weekly Substack: https://centennialworld.substack.com/ Join our Geneva home: https://links.geneva.com/invite/7eb23525-9259-4d59-95e3-b9edd35861a5 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infinitescrollpodcast/ Follow our publication: https://www.instagram.com/centennialworld/ Follow Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenmeisner_/ Resources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHeMBN1l45U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJzJnhs2ghg https://www.reddit.com/r/Fauxmoi/comments/zh6stb/acacia_brinley_villain_or_victim_the_downfall_of/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Fauxmoi/comments/zjerml/acacia_brinley_villain_or_victim_the_downfall_of/ https://www.thecut.com/2017/05/instagram-teen-idol-alexis-ren-on-being-perfect.html https://www.wmagazine.com/story/barbie-ferreira-model-aerie-interview https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/54389/1/barbie-ferreira-fashion-style-evolution-tumblr-euphoria-zendaya-charli-xcx https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/rise-and-fall-of-jess-millers-pizza-empire-20160512-gotftv.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2015/04/08/a-complete-history-of-f-yeah-tumblrs-the-happiest-blogs-on-the-web/ McCracken, Allison, Alexander Cho, Louisa Stein, and Indira Neill Hoch, eds. A Tumblr Book: Platform and Cultures. University of Michigan Press, 2020. https://doi.org/10.3998/mpub.11537055. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/laurenstrapagiel/tumblr-says-its-queerest-social-media-platform Oliver L. Haimson, Avery Dame-Griff, Elias Capello & Zahari Richter (2021) Tumblr was a trans technology: the meaning, importance, history, and future of trans technologies, Feminist Media Studies, 21:3, 345-361, DOI: 10.1080/14680777.2019.1678505 https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/02/tumblr-has-cutting-and-anorexia-and-bulimia-problem/331358/ https://www.vice.com/en/article/kbbpem/tumblr-says-no-more-thinspiration https://www.nylon.com/beauty/tumblr-eating-disorder-content-is-on-tiktok-how-to-navigate-it https://www.vogue.com/article/2014-tumblr-girl-aesthetic https://www.newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/how-tumblr-became-popular-for-being-obsolete