View source for 9gag

{{short description|Social media website}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox website
| name = 9gag
| logo = 9gag logo.svg
| screenshot =
| caption =
| country_of_origin = [[China]]
| founder = {{unbulleted list|[[Ray Chan (businessman)|Ray Chan]]<!--|Chris Chan|Derek Chan|Marco Fung|Brian Yu these names need a reliable source-->}}
| url = {{url|9gag.com}}
| advertising = [[Banner ads]]
| registration = Optional (required to submit, comment, vote or view [[Not safe for work|NSFW]] content)
| language = English
| company_type = Private
| foundation = {{start date and age|2008|4|11}}
| area_served = Worldwide
| location_city = {{unbulleted list|[[Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong]]|[[Mountain View, California]]}}
| key_people = Ray Chan (CEO)
| current_status = Active
| website_type = [[Entertainment]]
}}
'''9gag''' (stylized as '''9GAG''') is an online platform and [[social media]] website based in [[Hong Kong]],<ref>{{cite news |title=9GAG CEO Ray Chan: 'Building a healthy community is a never-ending battle' |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/07/26/9gag-ceo-ray-chan-building-a-healthy-community-is-a-never-ending-battle/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |access-date=May 19, 2018 |archive-date=May 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519121206/https://techcrunch.com/2017/07/26/9gag-ceo-ray-chan-building-a-healthy-community-is-a-never-ending-battle/ |url-status=live}}</ref> which allows its users to upload and share [[user-generated content]] or other content from external social media websites. Since the platform for collections of [[Internet meme]]s was launched on April 11, 2008,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://whois.domaintools.com/9gag.com |title=Whois Record for 9Gag.com |website=DomainTools |year=2016 |access-date=February 25, 2016 |archive-date=May 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529032806/http://whois.domaintools.com/9gag.com |url-status=live}}</ref> it has grown in popularity across [[social media]] such as [[Facebook]], [[Twitter]], and [[Instagram]].{{efn|name=popularity}}
==History==
The website was co-founded in 2008 by a group of Hong Kongers including [[University of Hong Kong]] student [[Ray Chan (businessman)|Ray Chan]], with the intention of creating an alternative online platform to email on which users could easily share humorous photos or videos. In a 2012 interview, Chan declined to explain the origins of the name "9gag".<ref name="Ren">{{cite web |last=Ren |first=Fiona |title=How Ray Chan started 9GAG, and a career in fun |url=http://www.meldmagazine.com.au/2012/07/9-gag-ray-chan/ |work=Meld Magazine |access-date=September 15, 2014 |date=July 24, 2012 |archive-date=July 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724173245/https://www.meldmagazine.com.au/2012/07/9-gag-ray-chan/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Chan later explained that the name "9gag" comes from [[Cantonese]], where it sounds like "gou gag" which means to crack a joke or gag.<ref>{{cite web |title=9GAG Memeland- I'M ON A BOAT! @9gagtv |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1NbCvAsgzU |website=youtube.com |publisher=Cryptonauts |language=en |format=video |date=November 18, 2023}}</ref>
Starting the company under a "Just for Fun" mentality, 9gag's co-founders began using 9gag as a résumé-builder for the [[500 Startups]] accelerator program. During the summer program, the 9gag team worked on other startup ideas, including StartupQuote and Songboard.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mott |first=Nathaniel |url=http://pando.com/2012/08/21/9gag-the-biggest-little-startup-at-y-combinators-demo-day/ |title=9GAG, the Biggest Little Startup at Y Combinator's Demo Day |website=Pando |date=August 21, 2012 |access-date=July 17, 2014 |archive-date=July 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705073954/http://pando.com/2012/08/21/9gag-the-biggest-little-startup-at-y-combinators-demo-day/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Following the 500 Startups accelerator program, 9gag participated in Y Combinator's incubator and its user-base increased to 70 million global unique visitors per month.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://e27.co/jokes-aside-9gags-co-founder-ray-chan-shares-about-the-serious-side-of-their-latest-us2-8m-round/ |title=Jokes aside, 9gag's co-founder Ray Chan shares about the serious side of their latest US$2.8M round |website=E27 |date=August 8, 2012 |access-date=July 17, 2014 |archive-date=February 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219204548/https://e27.co/jokes-aside-9gags-co-founder-ray-chan-shares-about-the-serious-side-of-their-latest-us2-8m-round |url-status=live}}</ref> The 9gag co-founding team discontinued all other projects and shifted their focus exclusively on 9gag. 500 Startups was given equity for their aid and mentorship.
In July 2012, 9gag raised an additional US$2.8 million in funding from Silicon Valley–based venture capital,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scmp.com/magazines/money/article/1264362/project-strt |title=Project st@rt-up |work=South China Morning Post |date=June 27, 2013 |access-date=July 17, 2014 |archive-date=August 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813212330/http://www.scmp.com/magazines/money/article/1264362/project-strt |url-status=live}}</ref> including True Ventures and [[Greycroft Partners]]. In August 2012, 9gag received another $2.8 million in funding from Silicon Valley venture capitalists, including True Ventures and Greycroft Partners, as well as individual investors like [[Chris Sacca]], [[Kevin Rose]], and [[AngelList|Naval Ravikant]]. This funding supported 9gag's engineering team growth both in Hong Kong and in Silicon Valley.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gannes |first=Liz |url=http://allthingsd.com/20120412/meet-9gag-the-community-comedy-site-thats-growing-like-crazy |title=Meet 9GAG, the Community Comedy Site That's Growing Like Crazy |website=AllThingsD |date=April 12, 2012 |access-date=July 17, 2014 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714101309/http://allthingsd.com/20120412/meet-9gag-the-community-comedy-site-thats-growing-like-crazy/ |url-status=live}}</ref> 9gag is headquartered in [[Tsuen Wan]], [[Hong Kong]], with offices in [[Mountain View, California]].<ref>{{cite web |title=9GAG Office / LAAB Architects |website=ArchDaily |date=February 23, 2016 |url=https://www.archdaily.com/782606/9gag-office-laab-architects |language=en |access-date=January 1, 2018 |archive-date=September 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912060642/https://www.archdaily.com/782606/9gag-office-laab-architects |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=191824007 |title=9GAG, Inc.: Private Company Information |website=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]] |access-date=November 11, 2017 |archive-date=November 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111151915/https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=191824007 |url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Mobile app development ===
9gag has a mobile application on iOS, Android, Windows Phone 8, and BlackBerry 10.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fixneed.com/2012/11/09/9gag-business-model-and-business-proposal |title=Behind 9gag. Its business model |website=FixNeed |access-date=July 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705034204/http://www.fixneed.com/2012/11/09/9gag-business-model-and-business-proposal/ |archive-date=July 5, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://9gag.tv/ |title=9GAG.tv |access-date=December 16, 2014 |archive-date=December 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217090434/http://9gag.tv/ |url-status=dead |website=9gag.tv}}</ref>
In July 2012, 9gag launched an app for iOS and Android. The mobile application serves as a streamlined version of the web-based content.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/Humor-Website-9GAG-Ups-Ante-Fun-Launches-New-Mobile-App-Receives-28-Million-Seed-1684998.htm |title=Humor Website 9GAG Ups the Ante for Fun, Launches New Mobile App and Receives $2.8 Million in Seed Funding |publisher=9GAG |via=Marketwired |date=July 30, 2012 |access-date=July 17, 2014 |archive-date=March 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322052836/http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/Humor-Website-9GAG-Ups-Ante-Fun-Launches-New-Mobile-App-Receives-28-Million-Seed-1684998.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> In summer 2014, 9gag launched 9chat where 9gag users log into their accounts and write to others by sending them a message. 9chat also added support for the creation of groups in different sections.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://9chatapp.com/ |title=9CHAT |access-date=November 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113003614/http://9chatapp.com/ |archive-date=November 13, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In December 2014, 9gag launched its first game called ''9GAG Redhead Redemption''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Redhead Redemption |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/70682/redhead-redemption/ |website=MobyGames |access-date=August 29, 2024}}</ref>
==Authorship and criticism==
9gag users and admins may also re-post content (usually without any consent from its respective authors) from other websites (e.g. [[4chan]], [[Newgrounds]], [[Reddit]], [[SomethingAwful]], [[The Oatmeal and FunnyJunk legal dispute|FunnyJunk]], [[YTMND]], [[Instagram]], etc.), replacing the source site's watermark with their own. In 2011, 9gag and 4chan disputed authorship of internet memes published on both websites, whereby each company claimed the memes originated from their own website.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://uproxx.com/technology/2012/09/redditor-details-9gags-theft-process/ |title=Redditor Details 9Gag's Theft Process |work=[[Uproxx]] |date=September 12, 2012 |access-date=June 17, 2014 |last=Seitz |first=Dan |archive-date=August 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822142506/http://uproxx.com/technology/2012/09/redditor-details-9gags-theft-process/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailydot.com/entertainment/rob-delaney-9gag-twitter-joke-theft/ |title=Internet pounces on 9GAG after joke theft |work=Daily Dot |date=June 4, 2012 |access-date=June 17, 2014 |last=Eördögh |first=Fruzsina |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006101627/http://www.dailydot.com/entertainment/rob-delaney-9gag-twitter-joke-theft/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Ray Chan argued that "9GAG does not create memes or rage comics, but helps spread them."<ref name="Ren" /> In a 2015 ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'' article, writer [[Amanda Hess]] described 9gag's reposting of content from Instagram as part of an "online ecosystem of joke stealing".<ref>{{cite news |last=Hess |first=Amanda |author-link=Amanda Hess |title=Laugh Factory |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/users/2015/08/the_fat_jew_is_not_alone_the_shady_business_of_internet_joke_stealing.html |access-date=March 14, 2017 |work=Slate |date=August 26, 2015 |archive-date=April 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406062239/http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/users/2015/08/the_fat_jew_is_not_alone_the_shady_business_of_internet_joke_stealing.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[1CAK]]
== Explanatory notes ==
{{notelist|refs=
{{efn|name=popularity|As of November 2017, it reached more than 38.3 million [[Facebook]] likes<ref>{{cite web |title=9GAG |url=https://www.facebook.com/9gag |publisher=9GAG on Facebook |via=Facebook |access-date=November 22, 2017 |date=November 2017 |archive-date=October 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030233321/https://www.facebook.com/9gag/ |url-status=live}}</ref> 16.8 million Twitter followers<ref>{{cite web |title=9GAG |url=https://twitter.com/9GAG |website=9GAG on Twitter |via=Twitter |access-date=November 22, 2017 |date=November 2017 |archive-date=August 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831072427/https://twitter.com/9GAG |url-status=live}}</ref> and 58.3 million followers on Instagram.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/9gag/ |title=9gag |website=9GAG on Instagram |access-date=May 9, 2016 |archive-date=January 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130080205/https://www.instagram.com/9GAG/ |url-status=live}}</ref>{{synthesis inline|date=August 2022}}}}
}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{official website}}
[[Category:Android (operating system) software]]
[[Category:Chinese entertainment websites]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 2008]]
[[Category:Mass media companies of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Y Combinator companies]]
[[Category:Alt-tech]]
[[Category:Islamophobic publications]]