Imgur: Difference between revisions

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Users can upload content to the platform, however it cannot be used as a content delivery network (CDN) as per their TOS,<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=November 28, 2022 |title=Imgur TOS |url=https://imgur.com/tos |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230113071334/https://imgur.com/tos |archive-date=Jan 13, 2023 |access-date=March 3, 2025 |website=Imgur.com}}</ref> despite its initial purpose being as such.

===User Privacy===

Automatically collects device information, which includes device ID (for mobile devices), operating system, IP address. Uses technology such as tracking cookies to improve the "server's interaction with your device" alongside third-party advertisements.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Privacy Policy |url=https://imgur.com/privacy |access-date=13 Aug 2025 |website=Imgur}}</ref>

Automatically collects device information, which includes device ID (for mobile devices), operating system, IP address. Uses technology such as tracking cookies to improve the "server's interaction with your device" alongside third-party advertisements.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Privacy Policy |url=https://imgur.com/privacy |access-date=13 Aug 2025 |website=Imgur |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222002112/https://imgur.com/privacy |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Business Model===

Imgur gains revenue via advertisements seen by consumers. Payment is provided by the companies which pay for advertising space on Imgur’s website.

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<blockquote>Further Reading: [[Advertising overload]]</blockquote>

[[File:Ad_Overload_Imgur.png|thumb|An example of how frequent advertisements are for users on Imgur. Via: https://imgur.com/gallery/too-many-ads-9vzuP7x]]

While initially introduced as a method for keeping the platform up amid increasing server costs since the 2010s,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Imgur staff |date=Apr 4, 2016 |title=About Ads on Imgur |url=https://blog.imgur.com/2016/04/04/ads-and-the-apps/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912072231/https://blog.imgur.com/2016/04/04/ads-and-the-apps/ |archive-date=Sep 12, 2016 |access-date=Mar 5, 2025 |work=Imgur blog}}</ref> for nearly a decade, users have been complaining about a large amount of advertisements on both the website and especially the mobile app.<ref>https://imgur.com/gallery/so-many-ads-J39ioLs</ref><ref name=":1">https://imgur.com/gallery/i-keep-getting-pop-ups-whole-browsing-on-phone-9kBpBWP</ref><ref>https://imgur.com/gallery/no-wonder-we-have-so-many-trouble-with-ads-on-imgur-NgB8lVO</ref>

While initially introduced as a method for keeping the platform up amid increasing server costs since the 2010s,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Imgur staff |date=Apr 4, 2016 |title=About Ads on Imgur |url=https://blog.imgur.com/2016/04/04/ads-and-the-apps/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912072231/https://blog.imgur.com/2016/04/04/ads-and-the-apps/ |archive-date=Sep 12, 2016 |access-date=Mar 5, 2025 |work=Imgur blog}}</ref> for nearly a decade, users have been complaining about a large amount of advertisements on both the website and especially the mobile app.<ref>https://imgur.com/gallery/so-many-ads-J39ioLs ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251113230134/https://imgur.com/gallery/so-many-ads-J39ioLs Archived])</ref><ref name=":1">https://imgur.com/gallery/i-keep-getting-pop-ups-whole-browsing-on-phone-9kBpBWP</ref><ref>https://imgur.com/gallery/no-wonder-we-have-so-many-trouble-with-ads-on-imgur-NgB8lVO ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251017200912/https://imgur.com/gallery/no-wonder-we-have-so-many-trouble-with-ads-on-imgur-NgB8lVO Archived])</ref>

Their negligence to also moderate advertisements has also led to ads of dubious quality to also be seen on both the website and mobile app.<ref>{{Cite news |last=arandompenguin |date=Jul 3, 2016 |title=Imgur and Ads: A Controversy |url=https://imgur.com/gallery/imgur-ads-controversy-8Mk43 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250305205210/https://imgur.com/gallery/imgur-ads-controversy-8Mk43 |archive-date=Mar 5, 2025 |access-date=Mar 4, 2025 |work=Imgur}}</ref> Additionally malicious advertisers historically took advantage of unmitigated JavaScript vulnerabilities to cause their advertisements to immediately redirect a user's browser to their website,<ref name=":1" /> with one user reporting being redirected to a phishing website.<ref>{{Cite web |last=BaldBandit |first= |date=Jul 2, 2016 |title=This is not acceptable. |url=https://imgur.com/gallery/this-is-not-acceptable-dMytYzc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250305202630/https://imgur.com/gallery/this-is-not-acceptable-dMytYzc |archive-date=Mar 5, 2025 |access-date=Mar 5, 2025 |website=imgur}}</ref>

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===Mass layoffs damaging functionality===

When Imgur was acquired by [[MediaLab AI, Inc.|MediaLab]], it subsequently underwent significant staff cuts, including layoffs affecting its human moderation and other operations teams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Imgur protest covers the front page in anti-MediaLab memes |website=Engadget |date=2025-08-25 |url=https://www.engadget.com/apps/imgur-protest-covers-the-front-page-in-anti-medialab-memes-225502091.html |access-date=2026-02-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Imgur's Community Is In Full Revolt Against Its Owner |website=Slashdot |date=2025-08-28 |url=https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/08/28/1816210/imgurs-community-is-in-full-revolt-against-its-owner |access-date=2026-02-20}}</ref> This has led to users on the platform facing features frequently breaking, and with the firing of its community management in July 2025,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Travis |date=Aug 26, 2025 |title=A little story about a site called Imgur. |url=https://bsky.app/profile/sigirides.bsky.social/post/3lxcjdm7ouk2v |access-date=Aug 30, 2025 |website=BlueSky}}</ref> the platform additionally had its transparency eliminated, eventually causing mass-revolts in late August 2025, when the notification feature on the platform was left non-functioning for 3 days.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Washenko |first=Anna |date=Aug 25, 2025 |title=Imgur protest covers the front page in anti-MediaLab memes |url=https://www.engadget.com/apps/imgur-protest-covers-the-front-page-in-anti-medialab-memes-225502091.html |access-date=Aug 26, 2025 |work=Engadget}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Galt |first=Matthew |date=Aug 28, 2025 |title=Imgur's Community Is In Full Revolt Against Its Owner |url=https://www.404media.co/imgurs-community-is-in-full-revolt-against-its-owner/ |access-date=Aug 30, 2025 |work=404 Media}}</ref> Instead of communicating with the community about the problem, the remaining moderation instead punished users on the platform.<ref name=":0" /> Protest content published to platform has ranged from images of John Oliver to not safe for work content.<ref name=":0" />

When Imgur was acquired by [[MediaLab AI, Inc.|MediaLab]], it subsequently underwent significant staff cuts, including layoffs affecting its human moderation and other operations teams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Imgur protest covers the front page in anti-MediaLab memes |website=Engadget |date=2025-08-25 |url=https://www.engadget.com/apps/imgur-protest-covers-the-front-page-in-anti-medialab-memes-225502091.html |access-date=2026-02-20 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260113232937/https://www.engadget.com/apps/imgur-protest-covers-the-front-page-in-anti-medialab-memes-225502091.html |archive-date=13 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Imgur's Community Is In Full Revolt Against Its Owner |website=Slashdot |date=2025-08-28 |url=https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/08/28/1816210/imgurs-community-is-in-full-revolt-against-its-owner |access-date=2026-02-20 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250918053650/https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/08/28/1816210/imgurs-community-is-in-full-revolt-against-its-owner |archive-date=18 Sep 2025}}</ref> This has led to users on the platform facing features frequently breaking, and with the firing of its community management in July 2025,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Travis |date=Aug 26, 2025 |title=A little story about a site called Imgur. |url=https://bsky.app/profile/sigirides.bsky.social/post/3lxcjdm7ouk2v |access-date=Aug 30, 2025 |website=BlueSky}}</ref> the platform additionally had its transparency eliminated, eventually causing mass-revolts in late August 2025, when the notification feature on the platform was left non-functioning for 3 days.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Washenko |first=Anna |date=Aug 25, 2025 |title=Imgur protest covers the front page in anti-MediaLab memes |url=https://www.engadget.com/apps/imgur-protest-covers-the-front-page-in-anti-medialab-memes-225502091.html |access-date=Aug 26, 2025 |work=Engadget |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260113232937/https://www.engadget.com/apps/imgur-protest-covers-the-front-page-in-anti-medialab-memes-225502091.html |archive-date=13 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Galt |first=Matthew |date=Aug 28, 2025 |title=Imgur's Community Is In Full Revolt Against Its Owner |url=https://www.404media.co/imgurs-community-is-in-full-revolt-against-its-owner/ |access-date=Aug 30, 2025 |work=404 Media |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260206183519/https://www.404media.co/imgurs-community-is-in-full-revolt-against-its-owner/ |archive-date=6 Feb 2026}}</ref> Instead of communicating with the community about the problem, the remaining moderation instead punished users on the platform.<ref name=":0" /> Protest content published to platform has ranged from images of John Oliver to not safe for work content.<ref name=":0" />

==See also==

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 Users can upload content to the platform, however it cannot be used as a content delivery network (CDN) as per their TOS,<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=November 28, 2022 |title=Imgur TOS |url=https://imgur.com/tos |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230113071334/https://imgur.com/tos |archive-date=Jan 13, 2023 |access-date=March 3, 2025 |website=Imgur.com}}</ref> despite its initial purpose being as such.
 ===User Privacy===
-Automatically collects device information, which includes device ID (for mobile devices), operating system, IP address. Uses technology such as tracking cookies to improve the "server's interaction with your device" alongside third-party advertisements.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Privacy Policy |url=https://imgur.com/privacy |access-date=13 Aug 2025 |website=Imgur}}</ref>
+Automatically collects device information, which includes device ID (for mobile devices), operating system, IP address. Uses technology such as tracking cookies to improve the "server's interaction with your device" alongside third-party advertisements.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Privacy Policy |url=https://imgur.com/privacy |access-date=13 Aug 2025 |website=Imgur |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222002112/https://imgur.com/privacy |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref>
 ===Business Model===
 Imgur gains revenue via advertisements seen by consumers. Payment is provided by the companies which pay for advertising space on Imgur’s website.
@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 <blockquote>Further Reading: [[Advertising overload]]</blockquote>
 [[File:Ad_Overload_Imgur.png|thumb|An example of how frequent advertisements are for users on Imgur. Via: https://imgur.com/gallery/too-many-ads-9vzuP7x]]
-While initially introduced as a method for keeping the platform up amid increasing server costs since the 2010s,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Imgur staff |date=Apr 4, 2016 |title=About Ads on Imgur |url=https://blog.imgur.com/2016/04/04/ads-and-the-apps/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912072231/https://blog.imgur.com/2016/04/04/ads-and-the-apps/ |archive-date=Sep 12, 2016 |access-date=Mar 5, 2025 |work=Imgur blog}}</ref> for nearly a decade, users have been complaining about a large amount of advertisements on both the website and especially the mobile app.<ref>https://imgur.com/gallery/so-many-ads-J39ioLs</ref><ref name=":1">https://imgur.com/gallery/i-keep-getting-pop-ups-whole-browsing-on-phone-9kBpBWP</ref><ref>https://imgur.com/gallery/no-wonder-we-have-so-many-trouble-with-ads-on-imgur-NgB8lVO</ref>
+While initially introduced as a method for keeping the platform up amid increasing server costs since the 2010s,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Imgur staff |date=Apr 4, 2016 |title=About Ads on Imgur |url=https://blog.imgur.com/2016/04/04/ads-and-the-apps/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912072231/https://blog.imgur.com/2016/04/04/ads-and-the-apps/ |archive-date=Sep 12, 2016 |access-date=Mar 5, 2025 |work=Imgur blog}}</ref> for nearly a decade, users have been complaining about a large amount of advertisements on both the website and especially the mobile app.<ref>https://imgur.com/gallery/so-many-ads-J39ioLs ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251113230134/https://imgur.com/gallery/so-many-ads-J39ioLs Archived])</ref><ref name=":1">https://imgur.com/gallery/i-keep-getting-pop-ups-whole-browsing-on-phone-9kBpBWP</ref><ref>https://imgur.com/gallery/no-wonder-we-have-so-many-trouble-with-ads-on-imgur-NgB8lVO ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251017200912/https://imgur.com/gallery/no-wonder-we-have-so-many-trouble-with-ads-on-imgur-NgB8lVO Archived])</ref>
 Their negligence to also moderate advertisements has also led to ads of dubious quality to also be seen on both the website and mobile app.<ref>{{Cite news |last=arandompenguin |date=Jul 3, 2016 |title=Imgur and Ads: A Controversy |url=https://imgur.com/gallery/imgur-ads-controversy-8Mk43 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250305205210/https://imgur.com/gallery/imgur-ads-controversy-8Mk43 |archive-date=Mar 5, 2025 |access-date=Mar 4, 2025 |work=Imgur}}</ref> Additionally malicious advertisers historically took advantage of unmitigated JavaScript vulnerabilities to cause their advertisements to immediately redirect a user's browser to their website,<ref name=":1" /> with one user reporting being redirected to a phishing website.<ref>{{Cite web |last=BaldBandit |first= |date=Jul 2, 2016 |title=This is not acceptable. |url=https://imgur.com/gallery/this-is-not-acceptable-dMytYzc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250305202630/https://imgur.com/gallery/this-is-not-acceptable-dMytYzc |archive-date=Mar 5, 2025 |access-date=Mar 5, 2025 |website=imgur}}</ref>
@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 ===Mass layoffs damaging functionality===
-When Imgur was acquired by [[MediaLab AI, Inc.|MediaLab]], it subsequently underwent significant staff cuts, including layoffs affecting its human moderation and other operations teams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Imgur protest covers the front page in anti-MediaLab memes |website=Engadget |date=2025-08-25 |url=https://www.engadget.com/apps/imgur-protest-covers-the-front-page-in-anti-medialab-memes-225502091.html |access-date=2026-02-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Imgur's Community Is In Full Revolt Against Its Owner |website=Slashdot |date=2025-08-28 |url=https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/08/28/1816210/imgurs-community-is-in-full-revolt-against-its-owner |access-date=2026-02-20}}</ref> This has led to users on the platform facing features frequently breaking, and with the firing of its community management in July 2025,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Travis |date=Aug 26, 2025 |title=A little story about a site called Imgur. |url=https://bsky.app/profile/sigirides.bsky.social/post/3lxcjdm7ouk2v |access-date=Aug 30, 2025 |website=BlueSky}}</ref> the platform additionally had its transparency eliminated, eventually causing mass-revolts in late August 2025, when the notification feature on the platform was left non-functioning for 3 days.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Washenko |first=Anna |date=Aug 25, 2025 |title=Imgur protest covers the front page in anti-MediaLab memes |url=https://www.engadget.com/apps/imgur-protest-covers-the-front-page-in-anti-medialab-memes-225502091.html |access-date=Aug 26, 2025 |work=Engadget}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Galt |first=Matthew |date=Aug 28, 2025 |title=Imgur's Community Is In Full Revolt Against Its Owner |url=https://www.404media.co/imgurs-community-is-in-full-revolt-against-its-owner/ |access-date=Aug 30, 2025 |work=404 Media}}</ref> Instead of communicating with the community about the problem, the remaining moderation instead punished users on the platform.<ref name=":0" /> Protest content published to platform has ranged from images of John Oliver to not safe for work content.<ref name=":0" />
+When Imgur was acquired by [[MediaLab AI, Inc.|MediaLab]], it subsequently underwent significant staff cuts, including layoffs affecting its human moderation and other operations teams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Imgur protest covers the front page in anti-MediaLab memes |website=Engadget |date=2025-08-25 |url=https://www.engadget.com/apps/imgur-protest-covers-the-front-page-in-anti-medialab-memes-225502091.html |access-date=2026-02-20 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260113232937/https://www.engadget.com/apps/imgur-protest-covers-the-front-page-in-anti-medialab-memes-225502091.html |archive-date=13 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Imgur's Community Is In Full Revolt Against Its Owner |website=Slashdot |date=2025-08-28 |url=https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/08/28/1816210/imgurs-community-is-in-full-revolt-against-its-owner |access-date=2026-02-20 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250918053650/https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/08/28/1816210/imgurs-community-is-in-full-revolt-against-its-owner |archive-date=18 Sep 2025}}</ref> This has led to users on the platform facing features frequently breaking, and with the firing of its community management in July 2025,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Travis |date=Aug 26, 2025 |title=A little story about a site called Imgur. |url=https://bsky.app/profile/sigirides.bsky.social/post/3lxcjdm7ouk2v |access-date=Aug 30, 2025 |website=BlueSky}}</ref> the platform additionally had its transparency eliminated, eventually causing mass-revolts in late August 2025, when the notification feature on the platform was left non-functioning for 3 days.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Washenko |first=Anna |date=Aug 25, 2025 |title=Imgur protest covers the front page in anti-MediaLab memes |url=https://www.engadget.com/apps/imgur-protest-covers-the-front-page-in-anti-medialab-memes-225502091.html |access-date=Aug 26, 2025 |work=Engadget |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260113232937/https://www.engadget.com/apps/imgur-protest-covers-the-front-page-in-anti-medialab-memes-225502091.html |archive-date=13 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Galt |first=Matthew |date=Aug 28, 2025 |title=Imgur's Community Is In Full Revolt Against Its Owner |url=https://www.404media.co/imgurs-community-is-in-full-revolt-against-its-owner/ |access-date=Aug 30, 2025 |work=404 Media |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260206183519/https://www.404media.co/imgurs-community-is-in-full-revolt-against-its-owner/ |archive-date=6 Feb 2026}}</ref> Instead of communicating with the community about the problem, the remaining moderation instead punished users on the platform.<ref name=":0" /> Protest content published to platform has ranged from images of John Oliver to not safe for work content.<ref name=":0" />
 ==See also==