TUMBLR LOGO |
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Tumblr was created in February of 2007. |
History
Founded by 26 year old David Karp in February of 2007, Karps net worth is currently 200 million, and Tumblr is estimated to have a 800 million dollar value. In may of 2013 Karp sold Tumblr to Yahoo for 1.1 billion dollars. Karp had an ongoing partnership with the CEO of Yahoo, Marissa Mayer and eventually decided to hand Tumblr over to Yahoo for financial reasons.1
Tumblr currently houses 342.2 million blogs, and over 147.5 million posts. The Tumblr headquarters is located in New York and employs over 400 people.2

Mission Statement
"To empower creators to make their best work and get it in front of the audience they deserve"3
Platforms/Systems
Tumblr can be accessed through all media platforms including desktop, mobile, and tablet.
Accessibility
Tumblr does not vary much across platforms when it comes to what the user can and can't do on certain devices. When the user is accessing Tumblr on their mobile device such as a smart phone or tablet, their account will be streamlined so that they can only one post at a time, and all other features have to be accessed off of the home page. When the user is using Tumblr from their desktop or laptop device, they hae the ability to view another Tumblr users page, while still remaining on the home screen, however this option is not available on a mobile device.
Posts
There are many different ways that a user can post content to their feed/page. The user can create a text post, a simple and straightforward way to post content. The user can also post photos, video, or audio content for followers or people checking out your page to look at or listen to. Users can create a quote, similar to a text post but more geared towards integrating external sources into the users page. Another way to include other sources into a users blog is through posting links. When a user posts a link, it shows up on the feed as a headline to give the users followers a brief view of the link posted. Tumblr also offers a platform to create a chat on a users page which allows other people to interact in your post and comment in the chat.
GIF's
GIF's are similar to video clips but much shorter, only flashing an image's movement briefly. If a user already has a GIF created, they can upload their GIF directly from a computer/phone/tablet to share on their page. Tumblr also offers a library of GIF's that a user can search through to put on their blog, or a user can upload GIF's by filming a video and creating the GIF directly in the posting platform.

Notes
When Tumblr users come across a post that they are interested in or relate to, they have 3 different options that are available, allowing them to interact with the post. Users can comment, interacting with other Tumblr users through that post. Or, users can like or "heart" the post, adding to that posts popularity or note count. When accessing Tumblr from a desktop computer and the user "hearts" something on their feed, Tumblr immediately displays 4 small images of similar posts that the user may be interested in.

Tags
When a user is on their news feed, some of the posts from the blogs that they follow can include tags, located underneath the post. These tags are similar to hashtags, using the # symbol before a topic or phrase. When clicked on from the dashboard, these tags give the user access to all posts on Tumblr related to that specific tag. If the user is on another blog page and they click on a tag, it will bring them to all the posts that user has posted related to that tag.
Privacy
There's not much when it comes to privacy on Tumblr. Users can decide themselves whether or not they want to reveal their true identity on the site. Unlike other websites, Tumblr allows the usage of pornographic images to be displayed without consequences. The only other form of privacy is the option for users to anonymously message other users without the repercussions of having their identity being revealed.
Followers / People to Follow
Tumblr offers their users the option to choose who they follow by searching them, or simply following blogs on their feed. There is also a "trending" page, where users can see what is popular on Tumblr at that time. The trending page can include anything from text posts, to audio/video, or even popular chats. When a user decided to follow another blog, a small menu will appear on the right side including 4 other blogs that Tumblr thinks you may like, based on what you search, other blogs you follow, and post that you like/comment on. Following another Tumblr user adds their blog posts to your feed so that you always see what they post, when they post it.
Messaging
There are 2 different ways that a user can send messages to other Tumblr users, through chat or an inbox message. When a user sends a chat, they are directly sending a message to another Tumblr user. However, when a user sends an inbox message or asks a question, its only relating to a specific post selected by the user. When a user asks a question on another blog, they have the option to ask it anonymously or publicly. When the user is sending a chat directly to another user, they have the option to include a GIF, image, or sticker with the message.
Dashboard
When the user signs on to their Tumblr account, the first thing they see is their news feed. The top right corner of the home page is the "dashboard". The dashboard offers an accessible way to fluidly navigate through Tumblr's features.

Explore
The explore feature on Tumblr is an easy way to see other popular or trending posts on Tumblr, including text posts, photos, GIF's, quotes, links, chats, audio, video, and asks. This feature includes the option to check out posts that the staff of Tumblr has picked out for that week. The explore tab is also where the user acesses their "recommended for you" content, another easy way to find new blogs and posts you're interested in.
Inbox and Messaging
The Inbox/Messaging feature is where a user can access their messages and chats from the homepage. You can also view your chat boxes without leaving the dashboard.
Activity
This feature notifies users of any notifications received by their followers. These notifications can include the users follower activity: content that was liked or re-blogged onto their dashboard for other followers to see. It also lets a user know if they received a new follower.
Account
The account feature lets a user access personal account information and data. This includes the amount of posts a user 'Likes'. This means any post a user saves for later use, like a video or a longer post they don't have time to view at the moment. The 'following' option lets a user view all of the blogs they are following. The 'settings' option lets a user view demographics and security options. 'Help' answers any questions involving mobile use, customization and policies that a user has. It also offers tips about managing a blog. Under the 'Tumblrs' option, a user can access their personal profile, the posts reblogged, managing followers, there is another way to view 'Activity', and the 'Edit Appearance' option lets a user customize their personal blog page.
Make a post
This is how a user can create content directly from their newsfeed. This modal is also another way for users to reach the different forms of posting like GIF's, video/audio, text posts, etc.
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Barefoot Faerie's Tumblr Page |
Implications
Unlike most social media platforms, Tumblr allows users to connect with other users based on common interest, not on social connectivity. Users have the option to interact anonymously or publicly, however most Tumblr pages do not offer any demographical information about the person behind the blog. Tumblr promotes creativity amongst users and encourages users to freely express themselves to an audience of their choosing.