Yahoo Movies IMDb closes its 'troll-infested' message boards
IMDb is to close its message boards down after 16 years, it has confirmed.
In a statement, the movie database site said that they were ‘no longer providing a positive, useful experience’, and that it will close the boards for good on February 20, to allow users to ‘archive any message board content they’d like to keep for personal use’.
Indeed, the message boards on the site have long been known as a notorious hotbed of internet trolling, with issues of racism, sexism and harassment often rearing their heads.
“After in-depth discussion and examination, we have concluded that IMDb’s message boards are no longer providing a positive, useful experience for the vast majority of our more than 250 million monthly users worldwide,” read the statement.
“The decision to retire a long-standing feature was made only after careful consideration and was based on data and traffic.”
Many took to Twitter to hail the decision.
I stopped using #IMDb boards in 2011. It was entertaining but I stopped watching TV that year. Also the mod 2 troll ratio was overwhelming.
— (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧ bunⓐi (@Decembirth) February 5, 2017
So, they're shutting down @IMDb's message boards. Talk about #troll central. Over ten years wasted there. My first existence w trolls. pic.twitter.com/fi0fmf2toz
— Obeahwoman (@Obeah_woman) February 4, 2017
RIP @IMDb message boards. My inner troll will never forget you! ????
— Amelia Johnson (@honeychild_01) February 4, 2017
IMDb closing its message boards. Good! That's been a troll cesspit forever. Most ppl in the biz just read the most ridiculous ones & eyeroll
— MK Liebmann (@LaFemmeDeNY) February 3, 2017
Sad. The IMDb message boards were where I learned how to troll. RIP. https://t.co/hv5ztZgsNn
— Dan Zinski (@Dan_Zinski) February 3, 2017
However, others were less than happy.
Thanks a lot @IMDb you take the actions of few and punish the majority. Typical. Why don't you hire more ppl to rid the troll posts.
— Weaver (@stphniwvr) February 5, 2017
"IMDb let the trolls win." — a troll
— ????1 ????0 (@KmkMiller) February 4, 2017
IMDb is the world’s biggest online movie database, with 4.1 million titles listed, and pages on 7.7 million cast and film crew-members.
It launched its message boards in 2001, which reportedly remain one its most-used services, despite the decision to pull the plug.
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