#new feature

The announcement post, at the time I reblogged it, had around

2k comments

24k reblogs

13k likes

When I came back to Tumblr a little while later, the announcement post's notes had dropped significantly:

While my reblog of that post, now has its own notes AND comment section, completely separate from the OG post:

This means that the new feature is active at this very moment and that this is how it works. And it sucks.

This new reblog system GUTS original posts. Interactions and engagements can no longer be properly tracked. If an original post breaches containment, it REALLY breaches containment. Unless you feverishly check every reblog of a reblog of a reblog of a reblog manually, you won't know how your post is received.

This especially hurts creatives, who rely on engagement and numbers for the art, photos, videos, whatever else they post. They NEED to be a part of this, Tumblr, you can't bar the original poster from their own post's growth. It's disrespectful. It makes no sense.

If you disagree with Tumblr's decision to ruin creatives' post engagements and reason to post on this site, reblog the original post (linked far above), comment on it. Don't threaten, but be clear about why you disagree. Also send them your feedback through their support. Be loud about this.

Edit:

@changes blog <- Only comment on and/or reblog Changes's reblogs about this new feature! The engineers won't otherwise see or read what you have to say.

Edit #2: this is a gradual update and rollout; if you don't see the updated reblog chain notes system yet, you eventually might within the next few days. You can read Tumblr's response to the outrage here.

Witnessing a feature that supported writers and artists and helped them reach new audiences disappear is really disheartening.