Is Gfycat Shutting Down? What Happened to Gfycat?
by Naveenkumar
Updated Sep 06, 2023
Is Gfycat Shutting Down?
Gfycat, a popular GIF-hosting platform, has indeed made the somber announcement that it will be shutting down. This significant decision has sent ripples throughout the internet as it marks the end of an era for the platform, which has been a go-to source for funny GIFs, memes, and short video clips. The timeline for this shutdown is set to be just under two months, with the closure scheduled for September 1.
This news is particularly disheartening for the vast online community that has relied on Gfycat as a repository for humorous and entertaining content. It signifies the impending loss of countless GIFs and memes that have enriched internet culture and been widely shared across social media platforms.
The shutdown raises questions about the fate of the extensive archive of GIFs and memes hosted on Gfycat. Users and content creators who have relied on the platform to store and share their creations face the possibility of losing their work and the online visibility it provided.
While this development marks the end of Gfycat as we know it, it also serves as a reminder of the ever-evolving nature of the internet and the importance of backing up or preserving digital content to ensure its longevity in an online landscape that can be both fleeting and unpredictable.
What Happened to Gfycat?
The demise of this once-popular GIF-hosting platform can be traced back to a series of issues and signs that have been evident for some time.
Issues and Decline:
Technical Problems: Users began experiencing a range of technical problems on the platform, including GIFs failing to upload and extended periods of downtime. These issues severely impacted the user experience and raised concerns about the platform's maintenance.
Communication Breakdown: Many users reported silence from Gfycat's team in response to these technical problems. The lack of communication left users frustrated and uncertain about the platform's future, as it suggested a potential lack of active management and support.
Security Certificate Expiry: In May, Gfycat faced a significant outage when its security certificates expired. This prolonged downtime served as a strong indicator that the platform might not have been receiving the necessary attention and maintenance.
User Precautions: Recognizing these warning signs, some Gfycat users had already taken proactive measures to safeguard their GIFs by archiving or downloading them. Additionally, some began exploring alternative GIF-hosting platforms as a contingency plan.
Official Confirmation and Shutdown:
Gfycat's fate was officially confirmed with a statement from Snap, its parent company, which announced the winding down of support for Gfycat through gfycat.com. Users were given a 60-day window to save their content before the complete deletion of all Gfycat content and data.
Gfycat
Gfycat, affectionately pronounced "JIFEE-cat," began its journey in 2013 when it was founded by Richard Rabbat, Dan McEleney, and Jeff Harris in Edmonton, Canada. This pioneering platform broke new ground by offering web services that allowed users to encode GIFs into short videos. In 2015, it officially incorporated in the United States, securing $10 million in seed funding in 2016 to fuel its growth.
Gfycat's appeal lay in its versatile offerings. It provided a web-based service for users to upload and host short video content. Complementing this, it offered a suite of apps, including an iMessage app, an Android app, and the GIF Brewery macOS application, enabling users to create and share GIFs and videos effortlessly. The platform also forged strategic partnerships with popular platforms and apps like Reddit, Tango, Microsoft Outlook, Skype, and WordPress, earning accolades as a finalist in the 2016 Advertising Age Creativity Awards' "Startup to Watch" category.
During its zenith, Gfycat ranked among the top 57 websites in the U.S. by traffic in 2016 and boasted a thriving community of over 130 million monthly active users in 2017. Its user base spanned across English-speaking regions, with a notable presence in Europe and Latin America. Catering to a diverse audience, Gfycat supports sixteen languages, primarily attracting users in the 18-35 age range.
However, Gfycat encountered its share of challenges, including a reported data breach in 2018. To diversify its content offerings, the platform launched Redgifs.com for adult content in December 2019. In May 2020, Gfycat took a significant turn when it was acquired by Snap Inc., Snapchat's parent company, leading to the segregation of adult content to Redgifs.
The platform's troubles persisted as it grappled with technical issues, including a TLS certificate expiration in May 2023, causing disruptions in uploading. Despite resolving the certificate issue, Gfycat made the somber announcement of its discontinuation on June 30, 2023, with the website's official shutdown on September 1, 2023. This marked the end of an era for Gfycat and its vibrant user community, leaving behind a legacy in the world of short video content.
Gfycat Overview
Name
Gfycat
Available Languages
English
German
Dutch
French
Spanish
Italian
Portuguese
Czech
Polish
Russian
Korean
Japanese
Founded
2015; 8 years ago
Dissolved
September 1, 2023; 4 days ago
Headquarters
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Owner
Snap Inc
Founder(s)
Jeff Harris
Dan McEleney
Richard Rabbat
Services
Create, discover, and share GIFs and short videos
Users
220 million MAU
Is Gfycat Shutting Down - FAQs
Yes, Gfycat officially announced its shutdown on June 30, 2023, and the website ceased to be operational on September 1, 2023.
Gfycat faced various challenges, including technical issues, a reported data breach in 2018, and changes like the launch of Redgifs.com for adult content. It was later acquired by Snap Inc. in 2020. Ultimately, technical problems and a lack of responsiveness led to its discontinuation.
Gfycat encountered technical issues that disrupted its services. The most notable problem was an expired TLS certificate in May 2023, which caused disruptions in uploading content.
Gfycat was known for its user-friendly platform that allowed users to create, discover, and share GIFs and short videos. It also offered various apps and integrations with popular platforms and apps, making it a versatile content-sharing platform.
At its peak, Gfycat boasted over 130 million monthly active users in 2017. However, by the time of its discontinuation in 2023, it had approximately 220 million monthly active users.