ADVERTISEMENT

Tumblr was a social media giant in the early 2010s. It was the perfect middle ground, offering more text characters than Twitter and less clutter than Facebook. For many people, it was a glorious era of online networking

Thankfully, the Curated Tumblr subreddit keeps those days alive in today’s world of “reels” and “shorts.” As the name suggests, it’s a collection of screenshots from the platform that touch on political discourse, life’s absurdities, and everything in between.

We’re keeping this a lighthearted list that’s more about the silly and mundane. Enjoy scrolling and have yourself a nice throwback to a simpler time on the internet.

#2

We Sadly Live In A Society

We Sadly Live In A Society

AkariPeach Report

Add photo comments
POST
Andrew Keir
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Probably because if we don't, things are even worse for us. Just sayin' ...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

If you came of age in the Instagram and TikTok era, you’re likely not as familiar with Tumblr’s appeal. But looking at its About page will tell you a lot about its character and personality. 

“Wholesome chaos” was the phrase used to describe the site’s contents. It also encourages self-expression because “Tumblr is whatever you want it to be.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The internet defines Tumblr as a microblog. However, its founder, David Karp, does not use this description. In an interview with Media Bistro, he describes it as “the easiest way to share yourself.” 

Karp also emphasizes Tumblr’s flexibility regarding the type of content users can create. Because it is easy for anyone to self-publish, he believes it helped draw in a broad audience. 

#8

That's How It Works

That's How It Works

Green____cat Report

Add photo comments
POST
Vinny DaPooh
Community Member
3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep. I'm the guy the defense wants on the jury. You committed a crime and got immediate karma so now want the true victim to pay? Your honor, are we allowed to hang the plaintiff?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Astronaut

Astronaut

Green____cat Report

Add photo comments
POST
xolitaire
Community Member
3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

oh noooo so you can't pay your way into space anymore? Bummer. Well then, how about you use that money to pay your workers better? Sound good?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

“It’s the gay people in your phone” is another description written on the site. This comes from Tumblr’s similar claim to be the “queerest place on the internet.” 

According to Adweek statistics published in 2021, one in four users on the platform identify as LGBTQIA+. A Tumblr user is also said to be 193% more likely to be part of the queer community compared to other social networking sites.

ADVERTISEMENT
#10

Scenes Are Meant To Be Seen

Scenes Are Meant To Be Seen

Green____cat Report

#11

Professionalism

Professionalism

Green____cat Report

Add photo comments
POST
Karina
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a lovely story about cool prople. My bar is low, but this was wholesome

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

Most Embarrassing Thing That Can Ever Happen

Most Embarrassing Thing That Can Ever Happen

best_thing_toothless Report

To solidify Tumblr’s reputation as queer-friendly, Sydney-based writer and photographer Jonno Revanche wrote an article for The Guardian in 2016. Here, he described the platform as his “saviour” that made him see he “wasn’t monstrous and unloveable.”

“While it may seem simple or silly, social media allowed me to express elements of myself I felt like I couldn’t in my day-to-day life,” he wrote. 

#14

Accidentally Based

Accidentally Based

reddit.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
Verena
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only problem: Somebody has to deliver. Which was solved e.g. in social and health services (as a grneral overall term) in most of Europe, by everybody chipping in so those in need of health treatment, parental leave etc do get help.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#15

What's Your Corpse To Water Ratio?

What's Your Corpse To Water Ratio?

_CharmQuark_ Report

Add photo comments
POST
justagirl
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's also called, "Not thinking about the corpse when swimming" so yes if you somehow camouflage a corpse n a pool, don't tell me, and tell me to swim in it i will be fine.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Tumblr seems to have always catered to a younger, more progressive audience. For author and DePaul University professor Allison McCracken, it became the youth’s “best option for an online ‘private’ public space.” 

In a journal article she published in 2017, she credits the platform’s ability to “bring a broader range of voices” than any college classroom could. She also believes Tumblr was able to “offer developed minority representation” when the media wasn’t able to.

#16

Yeah, You’d Think They’d Be Able To Put Two And Two Together On This One

Yeah, You’d Think They’d Be Able To Put Two And Two Together On This One

Entity055 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Moo
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I personally think without the social stigma more people would come out as bi, but who knows

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

Tit For Tat

Tit For Tat

IthadtobethisWAAGH Report

Add photo comments
POST
StrangeOne
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Taylor sounds like an insufferable girlfriend. I'm sure she's just as bad, if not worse, to her boyfriends and makes it hard for them to please her in strategy. Her muse is break-ups. If she doesn't have fights, falling outs, break ups, her career would be over.

Thanos'Fingers
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Taylor seems worth the suffering. Stunning world famous billionaire girlfriend? You can whip me, sing about me, throw me off the tower, I'm in.

Load More Replies...
Lea S.
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't understand this phenomenon of people being upset about this.....writing about your exes is NOT a new, ground-breaking thing. No one's ever heard of Stevie Nicks or Fleetwood Mac?!

MicrowaveGoddess
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Taylor Swift makes lots of short private plans flights, which is why her carbon footprint is massive, (I think, not 100% sure)

Load More Replies...
Alyssa Phillips
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Indifferent to her, but she makes me think of the Boy Meets World episode where Eric interacts with the hippie singer and she goes dark.... Anyone else??

PewPew
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That comment of hers? That is when I "cancelled" her. You can't whine about folks being mean to you and then go do the same and profit from it. She is low-talent hypocritic.

Lea S.
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait a minute....are there actual names in her songs? Like she NAMES her exes in the lyrics?

Nota Robot
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

About the exes? Nobody should. About the pollution the ultra-rich cause? Everyone should. If multi gazillionaures would fly first class, I wouldn't have to compensate by putting my AC unit 0.5 degrees lower and showering one minute less.

Load More Replies...
Moo
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Her words tend to hurt her in the long run. Yet she doesn't learn

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Despite its reach and popularity among the younger demographic, Tumblr had its fair share of controversies. In 2018, it announced a prohibition on “adult content” after an iOS ban on the app due to child pornography issues. 

ADVERTISEMENT

In an official statement, Tumblr assured its users that it would continue to work to keep the platform a “safe place for creative expression, self-discovery, and a deep sense of community.” However, it received backlash, with affected users attacking its queer-friendly claim.

#19

Rich People And Ghosts

Rich People And Ghosts

MelanieWalmartinez Report

#20

Boring Queers

Boring Queers

Hummerous Report

Add photo comments
POST
Nat Rich
Community Member
3 months ago

This comment has been deleted.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

[u.s.] Vocal Minority

[u.s.] Vocal Minority

Hummerous Report

Add photo comments
POST
VikingAbroad
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They should be able to give a short review of the book and tell you on which page the offensive material is, and whether or not it is reoccurring in the book before being even allowed to ask for a book ban.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

By the time the controversy arose, Tumblr had already spiked in value and had been sold to media giant Yahoo! for a whopping $1.1 billion in 2013. In an interview with Inc. at the time of the sale, Karp admitted he wasn’t expecting it to happen that year. However, a “remarkable opportunity” presented itself. 

ADVERTISEMENT

“This was an unbelievable opportunity to shortcut a lot of the very hard things that we’re about to be going through,” he explained.

#22

Autism Awareness

Autism Awareness

MelanieWalmartinez Report

Add photo comments
POST
clairebear
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg you can't group us. As the saying goes, If you have met one autistic person, you have met one autistic person. We present differently.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

😔

😔

BarovianNights Report

Add photo comments
POST
Cat Palmer
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The first part happened to me: after a sudden massive decline in health I was found to be dangerously deficient in a vitamin (B12, fwiw). Sadly the "solved all my problems" bit has yet to take effect.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda

Tumblr remained with Yahoo! for four years before moving to Verizon Media. Two years later, in 2019, Verizon sold the platform to Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com. 

This time, the price tag was far less. Reports didn’t specify the amount, but it was believed to be “well below” $20 million, a far cry from its original purchase value.

#25

Gargle My Balls, Microsoft

Gargle My Balls, Microsoft

linuxaddict334 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Karina
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I bought a cromebook, and had to find a way to distale security so I could downlod... VLC 😅🤬

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#26

Catholicism Patch Notes

Catholicism Patch Notes

TotemGenitor Report

Now, we’re shifting the attention to you, dear readers. What do you think about Tumblr as a social media platform? Where do you think it stands in comparison to TikTok and Instagram? Let’s create a discussion in the comments!

#28

True Allyship 🏳️‍🌈

True Allyship 🏳️‍🌈

The_Kyojuro_Rengoku Report

Add photo comments
POST
The explanation
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Then again, maybe if you question somebody's identity and sexuality, they'll be annoyed. Also, what if their friend was gay but hadn't come out yet? Seems a jerkish way to treat your friends

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

A Collection Of Alternative Sayings

A Collection Of Alternative Sayings

swizzlesweater Report

#30

Racist, But Funny

Racist, But Funny

Hummerous Report

Add photo comments
POST
ScarletRos
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My son is autistic and in a special needs school and the kids are allowed to leave class and go outside if they need to.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#33

Evolution

Evolution

MelanieWalmartinez Report

Add photo comments
POST
CanadianDimes
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Evolution is reactive, not proactive. There's no goal per se, as in, a species isn't trying to evolve toward something, just trying to adapt to changing conditions so as to not die.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#35

From What I Can Tell This Hasnt Been Posted Here Yet So Here

From What I Can Tell This Hasnt Been Posted Here Yet So Here

YetGayerWombat Report

Add photo comments
POST
Verena
Community Member
3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It fascinates me endlessly, how in the one hand people are totally loving electronics taking over human work and free stuff on internet, and at the same time complain about not being able to find well enough paid work. Guys, we are 8 billion, not 2,5 as in 1950s happy fantasyland. These 8 billion need food, clothing, shelter and entertainment, which requires them to find well enough paid jobs. Shopping deadcheap stuff from deadcheap countries ruins your local economy and employment. By this making a few incredibly rich and you screaming hell and fire because they are rich.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#37

Good Person

Good Person

diichlorobenzen Report

#38

Female

Female

SuperDuperOtter Report

Add photo comments
POST
lenka
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unless the story involves her breasts, vagina or menstruation then adding 'female' to boss is irrelevant. Just don't. If the story involves your boss's breasts, vagina or menstruation then perhaps you should be reconsidering whether your relationship is appropriate and just not tell the story at all.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#39

I Love How Stupid The Cybertruck Is

I Love How Stupid The Cybertruck Is

Jakitron_1999 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Moo
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I saw a cyber truck with a shattered windshield, Elon is a liar

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#40

[u.s.] Confederate Surrender Day (Was Yesterday)

[u.s.] Confederate Surrender Day (Was Yesterday)

Hummerous Report

Add photo comments
POST
TotallyNOTAFox
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What is is the difference between Georgia and Germany? It took only one Sherman to defeat Georgia... (Just a history joke I heard recently)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#41

[marvel] A Simple But Elegant Solution

[marvel] A Simple But Elegant Solution

Mr_Muda_Himself_V3 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Navindu Wijewardena
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

for further context: the man shown is Matt Murdock, a.k.a Daredevil (Marvel). He's blind.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#42

>greentext Form

>greentext Form

Sonic_the_hedgedog Report

Add photo comments
POST
justagirl
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

are you allowed at whatever this guy went to if you're not lgbtq+? cause it sounds pretty lit.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#43

"This Country Used To Build Railroads!"

"This Country Used To Build Railroads!"

Xurkitree1 Report

#44

Sex

Sex

MelanieWalmartinez Report

Add photo comments
POST
Chihuahua Mama
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

*Talking to an incel* "Yes, complaining about 'females' is good, but have you tried sex"

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#45

Book-Ish

Book-Ish

Hummerous Report

Add photo comments
POST
Auntriarch
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A bible, unless it's one you had in primary school but your friend wrote something really naughty in it and you didn't dare give it back when you left and told the teacher you'd lost it.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 55 images. It’s been shortened to the top 45 images based on user votes.