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Read more about the article Petrarchan

Petrarchan

Petrarchan (petrarchan.com) is a niche, aesthetic-focused anonymous imageboard that belongs to the "Small Web" or "Boutique Chan" movement. It positions itself as a more cultured and "humanist" alternative to the more aggressive corners of the imageboard world. 1. Key Dates and Registration Domain Registration: The domain petrarchan.com was registered on August 25, 2021. First Wayback Machine Capture: The Internet Archive first captured a snapshot of the site on September 1, 2021. Launch: The site launched in late August 2021, appearing as part of a wave of specialized "Small Web" sites (alongside sites like yakui.moe and meth.cat) that sought to create small, high-quality, and "comfy" communities. 2. What is the site? Petrarchan is an anonymous imageboard (using the vichan engine) that emphasizes a "Romantic" and "Humanist" aesthetic. The Philosophy: The site draws heavy inspiration from the Renaissance and classical literature. It encourages "slow posting"—a contrast to the rapid-fire, low-quality content of larger boards. Users are encouraged to share art, literature, and personal reflections. Visual Style: True to its name, the site often uses classical art in its banners and has a very clean, minimalist CSS design. It is part of a loose webring of sites that prioritize site design and "webcore" aesthetics. Community: It is a small, insular community that avoids political drama and "raid culture," focusing instead on shared hobbies like reading, classic cinema, and music. 3. What does the name mean? The name is a tribute to the Italian poet and scholar Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch): Petrarch: Known as the "Father of Humanism," Petrarch was a central figure in the Italian Renaissance whose work emphasized human dignity, literature, and the beauty of the classical world. Chan: The standard suffix for imageboards. Petrarchan: Effectively translates to "The Humanist Imageboard." It signals to potential users that the site values artistic and intellectual pursuits over the "trash" aesthetic of other boards. 4. History and Context Petrarchan gained its small following by being part of the "nixx-sphere" or similar aesthetic collectives. It is often seen as the "sophisticated older sibling" to sites like trashchan.xyz. While traffic is low compared to mainstream sites, it is highly valued by its regulars for being a "literary lifeboat" where people can discuss the humanities without the cynicism found on 4chan's /lit/ board. images 1-2026

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Read more about the article Plus4chan

Plus4chan

Plus4chan (plus4chan.org) is one of the oldest and most historically significant "alternative" imageboards. Founded in the mid-2000s, it was created as a direct response to the perceived decline in quality on 4chan, positioning itself as a more mature and better-moderated version of the "chan" format. 1. Key Dates and Registration Domain Registration: The domain plus4chan.org was registered on March 22, 2006. First Wayback Machine Capture: The Internet Archive first captured the site in late 2006. Launch: The site launched in early 2006. It is one of the few imageboards from that era that has remained continuously online for nearly two decades, outlasting almost all of its early competitors. 2. What is the site? Plus4chan is an anonymous imageboard that follows the traditional BBS structure but with a distinct cultural focus on "quality over quantity." The "Anti-4chan" Philosophy: In its early years, Plus4chan was famous for its "no-anime" stance (which has since softened or moved to specific boards) and its rejection of the "forced memes" and "randomness" that defined 4chan’s /b/ board. It sought to prove that the imageboard format could facilitate actual discussion rather than just shitposting. Custom Software: Unlike many modern boards that use LynxChan or Vichan, Plus4chan historically ran on its own modified software (often referred to as the "Plus4chan engine"), giving it a unique visual and functional feel compared to the standard "Yotsuba" clones. Community Vibe: The community is often described as "bitter but loyal." It caters to "oldfags" who grew tired of the mainstreaming of imageboard culture and wanted a smaller, more insular space. 3. What does the name mean? Plus: Signifies an addition, an improvement, or a "step up." It was intended to suggest that this was "4chan, but better" or "4chan with extra standards." 4chan: The name of the site it was parodying/improving upon. Plus4chan: Effectively translates to "The Improved Imageboard." 4. History and Context Plus4chan is a relic of the "Imageboard Wars" of the late 2000s. While it never reached the massive traffic of 4chan or 7chan, it maintained a highly influential user base. Many early internet researchers and "chan historians" used Plus4chan as a secondary hub for archiving internet culture. It is currently valued as a "Slow Web" project—a place where threads can stay active for weeks or months, a rarity in the fast-paced world of modern anonymous forums.

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Read more about the article Smugloli

Smugloli

Smuglo.li (often stylized as SmugLo) is a niche internet project that gained notoriety in the mid-2010s as a "free speech" instance within the fediverse (specifically GNU Social and later Pleroma) while also hosting a dedicated imageboard component. 1. Key Dates and Registration Domain Registration: The domain smuglo.li was first registered on October 25, 2016. First Wayback Machine Capture: The Internet Archive first captured a snapshot of the site on January 4, 2017. Launch: The site launched in late 2016. It quickly became a focal point in the "Mastodon/Fediverse wars" of early 2017. Due to its extremely permissive moderation policies regarding "Red-tribe" (right-leaning) politics and controversial anime content, it was one of the first major instances to be "defederated" (blocked) by the larger, "safe-speech" Mastodon network. 2. What is the site? Smuglo.li was a hybrid social platform that combined a microblogging feed with a traditional imageboard. The Fediverse Instance: It began as a GNU Social instance, serving as a hub for users who were banned from or dissatisfied with mainstream Mastodon instances. It was known for a "troll-friendly" culture and a focus on absolute free speech. The Imageboard (/a/): The site hosted an imageboard (specifically at smuglo.li/a/) using the LynxChan engine. This board was primarily dedicated to anime discussion, but like many "alt-chans," it allowed for much more unrestricted discourse than boards like 4chan. Current Status: The site is largely considered a "legacy" instance today. By 2018–2019, it was often cited as a demo site for the catamphetamine/imageboard software and other open-source BBS projects, rather than a high-traffic community. 3. What does the name mean? The name is a portmanteau reflecting the site's primary aesthetic and technical origins: Smug: Refers to the "Smug Loli" internet meme—a specific anime character trope (often depicted as a young girl with a self-satisfied or mocking expression). This mascot was used extensively in the site's branding. Lo: Originally a reference to Local.li (a common GNU Social naming convention) or GNU Social (the "Lo" from the localized social feed). li: The country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Liechtenstein, which was a popular choice for "free speech" sites in that era due to perceived jurisdictional benefits. Smuglo.li: Effectively translates to "The Smug Loli Channel/Instance."

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Read more about the article Sportschan

Sportschan

Sportschan (sportschan.org) is a niche anonymous imageboard dedicated to sports discussion. It serves as an "alt-chan" alternative to mainstream boards like 4chan's /sp/, using modern imageboard software to host a variety of sports-related and general-interest boards. 1. Key Dates and Registration Domain Registration: The domain sportschan.org was first registered on December 22, 2018. First Wayback Machine Capture: The Internet Archive first captured the site on December 26, 2018. Launch: The site officially went live in late December 2018, appearing as part of a wave of "specialty" imageboards that launched using the Vichan or Infinity software engines (alternative software to 4chan’s Yotsuba). 2. What is the site? Sportschan is a community-run anonymous forum (BBS) where users can discuss professional and amateur sports. Alternative Culture: It was founded to provide a space for sports fans who wanted the "chan" style of communication (anonymity, image sharing, thread-based discussion) but desired a different community atmosphere or moderation style compared to larger sites. Technical Build: It uses Vichan/Infinity, which is favored by many "alt-chans" for its customizable themes and modernized user interface. It is often cited in developer documentation for imageboard archivers (like Hayden) as a primary example of a high-performance Infinity-based site. Content: While primarily focused on sports, it follows the traditional imageboard structure by including "off-topic" boards for general culture, gaming, and international discussion. 3. What does the name mean? Sports: Refers to the primary subject matter and the site's original intended focus. Chan: Short for "channel," the standard suffix for imageboards (derived from 2channel and 4chan). Sportschan: Effectively translates to "The Sports Imageboard." images from 1-2026

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Read more about the article The Chaddy

The Chaddy

Gigacha.de is a small-web imageboard that positions itself as a "comfy" and self-improvement-focused alternative to the larger, more chaotic imageboards like 4chan. It is part of the modern "Boutique Chan" movement. 1. Key Dates and Registration Domain Registration: The domain gigacha.de was registered on June 22, 2021. First Wayback Machine Capture: The first snapshot was recorded on July 20, 2021. Launch: The site launched in late June 2021. It was created during a surge in the "Small Web" movement where users were looking for specialized, smaller communities that utilized modern imageboard software (like LynxChan) rather than the aging infrastructure of older sites. 2. What is the site? Gigacha.de is an anonymous imageboard that emphasizes a "higher quality" of discussion and a cleaner aesthetic. The "Comfy" Philosophy: Unlike many boards that thrive on irony or aggression, Gigacha.de leans into the "comfy" (comfortable) subculture. It encourages hobbies, self-improvement, and aesthetic appreciation. Technical Build: It is built using LynxChan, a modern imageboard engine that allows for a more responsive user interface and better mobile compatibility than traditional boards. German Hosting: The .de TLD indicates it is hosted in or registered through Germany, though the primary language of the board is English, serving an international audience. 3. What does the name mean? The name is a portmanteau of a popular internet meme and the standard imageboard suffix: Giga-Cha: Short for GigaChad, the viral meme representing an ultra-masculine, idealized version of a man. In the context of the site, it refers to the "Chad" ethos of self-improvement, fitness, and mental well-being. De: The country code top-level domain for Germany (Deutschland). Gigacha: Effectively translates to "The Giga-Channel" or "The Chad-Channel." It signals that the board is intended for "Chads"—or those striving to be—who want a more refined space to post. 4. History and Community Context Gigacha.de gained popularity within the "fit-lit" (fitness and literature) and "slow web" communities. It serves as a hub for people who enjoy the anonymous format but want to avoid the "slop" (low-quality content) associated with larger boards. It is often grouped with sites like Shemmy.lol and Yakui.moe as part of a network of "aesthetic" imageboards that prioritize site design and specific subcultural vibes. Images from 1-2026

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Read more about the article The Shemmy

The Shemmy

Shemmy.lol is a modern, niche imageboard that belongs to the "Small Web" and "Webcore" movement. It is part of a cluster of interconnected personal sites and community boards that prioritize a retro, artistic, and often "glitchy" aesthetic. 1. Key Dates and Registration Domain Registration: The domain shemmy.lol was registered on July 10, 2023. First Wayback Machine Capture: The Internet Archive first captured a snapshot of the site on July 20, 2023. Launch: The site officially launched in July 2023. It was created as a dedicated space for the "Shemmy" community, which had previously existed across other small imageboards and Discord servers. 2. What is the site? Shemmy.lol is an anonymous imageboard (utilizing LynxChan software) that serves as a hub for artists, "webcore" enthusiasts, and fans of the "Shemmy" character. The Mascot: The site is centered around "Shemmy," a stylized, white, cat-like creature mascot. This character is a staple of a specific corner of the internet that blends 1990s digital nostalgia with modern surrealist art. Culture: The site is known for being a "comfy" and creative space. While it follows the anonymous format of traditional imageboards, it is significantly smaller and more focused on sharing original art, CSS customizations, and niche music (like breakcore or vaporwave). The "Small Web" Connection: It is frequently linked to other sites like yakui.moe and soyjak.party (though with a very different aesthetic), forming part of a network of users who prefer independent, community-run platforms over mainstream social media. 3. What does the name mean? Shemmy: This is the name of the creator’s persona and the site's mascot. The name itself is a whimsical, made-up moniker typical of the "weirdcore" or "cute-core" internet subcultures. lol: The .lol top-level domain is a popular choice for personal or community-driven projects that don't take themselves too seriously and want to signal a sense of humor or playfulness. Shemmy.lol: Effectively translates to "The Shemmy Community Site." 4. History and Context While the site itself is relatively young (launching in 2023), the "Shemmy" subculture has been active for several years prior on platforms like Neocities and various "Boutique Chans." The site represents the "professionalization" of this small subculture—moving from a single page on a hosting service to a fully-featured, independent imageboard. It is often cited as one of the most visually interesting modern imageboards due to its custom CSS and focus on user-generated art. images from 1-2026

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Read more about the article 13chan – Dead

13chan – Dead

Specific historical information about https://13chan.net/ such as its exact founding date, wasn't readily available in the search results. However, based on the site's own description, 13chan presents itself as a personal image-based bulletin board focused strongly on user privacy and freedom. Its most distinguishing feature compared to a site like 4chan is its primary operation as a Tor hidden service, meaning users typically need the Tor Browser to access it, emphasizing anonymity and making it harder to trace. 13chan.net Imageboards Here is the list of imageboards found on 13chan.net, as of 5-4-2025: /g/ - Technology /x/ - Paranormal /a/ - Anime & Manga /pol/ - Politically Incorrect /b/ - Random /v/ - Video Games /h/ - Hentai Marked dead 9/2025 - Service Suspended

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Read more about the article 22Chan

22Chan

22Chan was made as an alternative to 4chan by people who were tired of the endless pornposting and low quality content. The current list of boards is below: /all/ - Overboard /a/ - Anime & Manga /b/ - Random /cre8/ - Art & Creativity /meta/ - Meta /mu/ - Music /server/ - Server /vg/ - Video Games /www/ - Internet History & Culture /yu/ - Feelings /sewers/ - Sewers /f/ - Flash /mp3/ - MPEG Audio Layer-3 News on 4/19/22, the owner is shutting down the site. Discussion on livechan sounds promising that it will be relaunched soon so I will keep it listed on AllChans for now. The /b/ is still working today. The rest look to be 404. screenshot of 22chan on 4/28/2022 Marking as dead 11-30-2022 It has been going to a cloudflare 404 page for a few weeks now. RE-added 5-5-23 screenshot above is from this date. 12-12-23 screenshot 5-4-2025 screenshot

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