Tumblr, the blogging platform that has changed hands twice, has announced the open beta launch of its new “Communities” feature through its Tumblr Labs division. This new addition provides a dedicated space for users to engage with others on various topics outside the main Tumblr dashboard. The open beta comes six months after the feature’s initial closed beta phase and signals a strategic shift under its new parent company, Automattic, the creators of WordPress.com.
“Communities” on Tumblr are “semi-private” spaces, each governed by its own moderators, rules, and privacy settings. The functionality is reminiscent of subreddits on Reddit and Communities on X (formerly Twitter), both of which have become training grounds for artificial intelligence. Users now have the option to request the creation of new communities, which will be placed on a waitlist. Tumblr Labs reports there are currently over 5,800 communities queued, and they are working diligently to process these requests to extend the experience to a broader audience.
The introduction of Communities incorporates a social networking element into Tumblr, taking the company beyond its traditional focus on blogging and publishing. This positions Tumblr to better compete with platforms like X and Reddit.
The impetus for developing Communities came from user feedback indicating a desire for more effective ways to connect with like-minded individuals. This new feature would eliminate the need for users to search for blogs centered around specific topics, allowing them to simply join a community of interest instead.
Tumblr emphasizes that Communities can serve a wide range of purposes. These spaces could bring together fans of particular TV shows, artists, or book series, or function as dedicated areas for schools, book clubs, friend groups, and more.
