4chans

4chans is a term that can refer to the original imageboard site 4chan and to similar imageboard communities that imitate its format. 4chan itself is an anonymous, English-language imageboard launched in 2003 by Christopher Poole, who used the handle moot. The site is organized into topic-based boards where users post images and accompanying text without requiring user accounts. Posts are often made by users who choose to remain anonymous, and discussions are typically driven by user moderation within each board and by site-wide rules.

Historically, 4chan became influential in online culture for its fast-moving discussions and for spawning many memes and subcultures. In 2015 moot transferred ownership of 4chan to Hiroyuki Nishimura, the founder of the Japanese site 2channel, and the site has continued under new governance with ongoing, relatively light moderation compared to some other platforms. The forum structure and anonymity have contributed to a distinctive culture that emphasizes spontaneity, humor, and rapid content turnover.

The site and its offshoots have had a substantial impact on internet culture, including meme creation, slang, and the dissemination of viral content across other platforms. At the same time, 4chan has been the subject of controversy due to the presence of illegal or harmful material and coordinated harassment at times, which has drawn criticism and led to intensified moderation efforts by hosts and observers. The term 4chans can also be used to describe a broader network of similar imageboard communities that adopt the same basic format.