Home > Internet & Media
IMDb Is Shutting Down Its Infamous Message Boards
Rich Polk/Getty Images for IMDb
February 6th, 2017 | 09:15 AM | 1329 views
ENGADGETS.COM
They just weren't a friendly place to talk about movies.
IMDb's message boards were supposed to encourage discussion among movie buffs, but that's not how they've turned out. If anything, they've developed a reputation for haters and trolls -- you'll even find naysayers ragging on people who like Casablanca and Citizen Kane. And apparently, IMDb has had enough. The Amazon-owned database is shutting down the boards on February 20th after determining that they're "no longer providing a positive, useful experience" for most users. Data and traffic helped influence the decision, IMDb adds, suggesting that they weren't popular enough to warrant keeping around.
While the closure will be unfortunate for those users who just wanted to explore plot theories or enthuse about their favorite actors, the warning signs were everywhere. The IMDb boards haven't had strong moderation, making it all too easy for hollow commentary, personal attacks and even racism to go unchecked. And as our TechCrunch colleagues note, message boards aren't as vital these days -- why go to IMDb to chat about a movie when you can share your thoughts on Facebook or Twitter? While the news is unfortunate, you probably won't see too many people mourning this loss when there are other, healthier options.
Source:
courtesy of ENGADGET
by Jon Fingas
If you have any stories or news that you would like to share with the global online community, please feel free to share it with us by contacting us directly at [email protected]