It's been rumored for a little while now, but just yesterday the news was made very official. Yahoo! has purchased the social blogging platform Tumblr for a reported $1.1 billion.
As expected, early user reaction has been almost entirely negative. Many have outright decided to quit Tumblr entirely, foreseeing a bleak, Yahoo! run future for the site.
bye never signing into tumblr again theatlanticwire.com/technology/201...
— dom (@nopelarry) May 19, 2013
Some users are wary of Yahoo! incorporating the service into their existing suite of Yahoo ID-powered products:
Please don't make us sign in to Tumblr using Yahoo ID. [Expletive] that. — Aulia Masna (@aulia) May 19, 2013
Current users are also addressing rumors that Yahoo! intends to implement more ads to improve the site's revenue:
NO APPARENTLY YAHOO IS SUPPOSED TO BOOST TUMBLR'S REVENUE BY ADDING ADS TO THE SITE HOLY HELL LORD HELP US ALL OMG theatlanticwire.com/technology/201...
— damn straight. ∞(@making_it_shine) May 19, 2013
Others question what Yahoo!'s end game is for this acquisition, believing that it doesn't fit into their current strategy:
Meanwhile Yahoo! is trying to spend its way out of mediocrity (again) with $1bn for Tumblr. What is their strategy? — emily bell (@emilybell) May 19, 2013
And others wonder how Yahoo! will handle the fact that many users use Tumblr to browse and post pornographic pictures and videos:
Now how do we monetize tumblr porn dot tumblr dot com
— jae (@jaesalinas) May 19, 2013
Twitter is really just the tip of the iceberg though, as the bulk of the Yahoo!/Tumblr outcry has been posted on, well, Tumblr.
User agrestico writes,
"This is a notice to yahoo. If you [expletive] tumblr up or make any noticeable changes including annoying adverts, I will personally march to your office and smack you up. Good day."
Vivre-le-reve posted, "We need to enjoy tumblr while we still can."
imyourpassengersx hyperbolically stated, "IF TUMBLR BECOMES ANOTHER MYSPACE ILL [sic] NEVER USE THE INTERNET AGAIN."
Lastly, hifish humorously wrote, "Today I found out that Yahoo is trying to buy out Tumblr. The biggest question I have is: Where is Yahoo even getting money from anymore? Who still uses it? I'm pretty sure we're just holding out for the 4 people still using Yahoo Mail."
Much, much more can be found while browsing Tumblr's "yahoo" tag.
Some users are responding positively to the news however.
"I love how Yahoo have actually stated that they don't want to change the things that make tumblr great (a couple of those things being no ads and no sign-up fee) but you guys are all freaking out about how they're going to completely fuck up tumblr and it won't be the little safe haven the we all so desperately crave," said user consultingangelofthetimelords. I mean, like the fisrt words that Marissa Mayer said about the deal was "We promise not to screw it up", and it's not like David Karp isn't still the CEO. "The product roadmap, their team, their wit and irreverence will all the remain the same" is what she has actually stated."
Another user, adieu-caribou, humourously wonders, "Plot Twist: Yahoo actually gives tumblr all the updates we've been asking for since the start of the useless updates."
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