Oh, absolutely, Tumblr was the thing in 2010! Long before Instagram swooped in with its flashy filters and influencer culture, there was Tumblr, the delightful chaotic playground of curated imagery. Picture this: a digital realm filled with vibrant memes, beautifully warped art, and the musings of a million teenage soul-searchers. It was a platform where everyone and their cat suddenly had an audience and the ability to express themselves creatively, no fancy college degree required!
Back in 2010, smartphones were becoming the must-have accessory, and people were figuring out that hey, they could take a photo with their little pocket computer and share it instantly. Here was Sharon Butler, a talented painter (making the rest of us feel inadequate in the process), embodying the spirit of the time with her art blog, “Two Coats of Paint.” She was just one of the many users who took advantage of the Tumblr app to showcase her work to a receptive audience—a modern curator for a new generation.
The platform encouraged self-expression in a way that felt organic and genuine. Blogs weren’t just for the tech-savvy or those with a flair for eloquence—they were for anyone with a passion. Remember those days of scrolling through endless reblogs of that one GIF that made you laugh out loud, or the endless quest for that perfect aesthetic? Tumblr created a sense of belonging through shared interests, whether it was fan theories about your favorite TV show, or your latest obsession with a local band.
So, was Tumblr a thing in 2010? Heck yes! It was the place to be, a vibrant community that thrived on creativity and sharing—like a hot pot of artistic soup where everyone tossed in their ingredients. It was an explosive blend of creativity, humor, and outright nonsense, and honestly, it was hard to look away. So next time someone tries to tell you about their Gen Z TikTok prowess, just nod and smile, knowing that Tumblr laid the groundwork for all that digital enthusiasm we see today.
