Does anyone else just prefer forums to social media sites?

I know it's probably preaching to the choir here, given anyone reading this is using a forum in 2025.

But I don't know, I just feel like forums are some of the last communities online that feel like actual communities. I actually recognise the people here compared to those likes sites on Reddit, and things are much easier to find that on the likes of Discord too.

Plus, I feel like the moderation is usually better on a forum. Probably because it's not outsourced to some third world country, or handled by someone with no real stake in the community's success like on Reddit or Discord.

What do you think?

I think it comes down to the scale of the environment. A more focused forum like this on a somewhat niche topic doesn't generate a lot of community at once, so it's easier to weed out any trolls who do show up willing to pick a pointless fight. Meanwhile, everyone can get on the average social media platform, with restrictions in place like age limits being easy to circumvent, and discuss anything. Plus with search functions, it's all too easy for the terminally online to hunt down people who post about what they don't like as it comes hot off the presses.

Yeah that's a fair point. Trolls and assholes tend to get filtered out of smaller communities, which keeps them a bit more civil.

I've said this more than I count but in forums, things feel more human since it's easier to recognize the people in there. There's a lot less trolls and outright rude people because it's much easier to moderate but also because people will remember if you're being a jerk in a forum since, again, it's easier to recognize people.

Also forums aren't structured like Casinos trying to eat you up as much time as possible to show you ads unlike modern social media. I hate the fact that when I open social media like Instagram (that I only have to talk to friends), you immediately get a video playing shoved in your face to try capture your attention. A forum site primary purpose is to build a community over a niche subject, whereas popular social media is just about making money really.