Necroposting

Necroposting is the practice of reviving a discussion by posting in a thread after a long period of inactivity. The term combines elements meaning “dead” and “posting,” and it is commonly used on online forums, imageboards, and question-and-answer sites. Necroposts can reintroduce topics that are still relevant or bring new information to light, but they can also be viewed as noise if the thread no longer fits current norms or knowledge.

Community norms about necroposting vary. Some forums tolerate or even encourage necroposts when the new post adds substantive updates, corrections, or context. Others prohibit them and enforce archiving, locking, or deletion to preserve topical relevance. Moderators may warn users, merge replies, or move the discussion to a new thread. Differences across general discussion boards, technical Q&A sites, and imageboards mean that what counts as a dead thread and how long inactivity lasts is not universal.

Etiquette and best practices include checking the thread’s age and whether a more recent discussion already covers the topic, ensuring the contribution adds new information or insight, and providing sources when possible. It is often advised to summarize the new information and avoid merely bumping the thread without adding value. If a community disfavors necroposting, users are expected to respect the guidelines to maintain discussion quality and prevent unnecessary bumps. Related concepts include thread revivals and forum etiquette.