shitpost

Shitpost is a term used in online communities to describe content that is intentionally low-effort, absurd, or off-topic, created to provoke reactions, amuse insiders, or derail discussions rather than to convey information. The practice emerged in early internet forums and imageboards, notably on 4chan in the early 2000s, where users began publishing deliberately nonsensical or trivial posts as a form of humor and social bonding. Since then, the term has spread to platforms such as Reddit, Twitter, and various forums, where it describes posts that prioritize memes, irony, or randomness over factual content.

Common characteristics include minimal textual or visual effort, surreal or illogical humor, meta-commentary about posting itself, repetition of memes, and deliberate disruption of a discussion topic. Shitposts can range from short impulsive replies to extended, thread-spinning sequences, and often rely on inside jokes or community-specific references. They may be crafted to test boundaries, provoke reactions, or simply entertain a subset of users who share a particular culture or sense of humor.

Reception of shitposting is mixed. Proponents regard it as a legitimate facet of online culture, a form of creative expression, and a counterweight to earnest or policing of conversation. Critics contend that it devalues discourse, obscures important information, and can erode community quality. Moderation approaches vary, from informal norms and bans on low-effort content to more formal rules aimed at preserving signal in discussions, with tension often remaining between free expression and maintainable quality of discussion.