On Tumblr, users can post a huge variety of content and media. So, it's no surprise the social blogging platform hosts wildly diverse communities. Some of these groups are so big and so active they become subcultures in their own right. They take over tags, earn thousands of reblogs and even create dedicated blogs entirely dedicated to one, very specific subject.
Most Tumblr users partake in one or several different subcultures, depending on their personal interests. Because Tumblr allows users to create multiple blogs, a single account can have various subculture-related blogs, as well as a personal one.
See also: 11 Tumblr Tips for Power Users
Whether you want to become an active participant in one or six of them, here are some of the most prominent and popular Tumblr subcultures.
Image: Tumblr, Emma Armstrong
Tumblr has become home to hundreds of fan communities, also known as fandoms. A fandom can involve any form of media — TV shows, books, movies, music, etc. While fandoms do exist outside of Tumblr, and have for a long time, this social media platform is where they currently thrive.
These fandoms often produce lots of fan art, fan fiction and host discussion on various elements concerning their favorite media. Said discussion can be about anything, such as the serious implications of the show's treatment of women or which reality show couple should just kiss and live happily ever after.
Some fandoms are bigger than others or have more active users, though their popularity does not always correlate to how well-perceived the piece of media is offline. The examples below are some fandoms that are unique to or began on Tumblr.
SuperWhoLock is a combination of the three television shows: Supernatural, Doctor Who and Sherlock. Fans often group these three shows together because users who enjoy one tend to watch the other two as well. Separately, the three have huge fan bases on Tumblr; however, the shows are often combined into one name for the sake of brevity. For a prime example of this fandom amalgamation in action, check out SuperWhoLock and Others.
Homestuck is an animated webcomic created by Andrew Hussie. Many of these fans congregate on Tumblr, discussing characters, creating fan art and setting up IRL meetups for local fans. Celebrity and Tumblr user Dante Basco is also a big fan of the webcomic and even has a character based on him, called Rufioh. If you're interested, read the comic or check out Today in Homestuck to get an idea of the story.
The Welcome to Night Vale fandom is unique because it grew before the podcast's popularity. In fact, the series' steadily increasing fan base is in part thanks to enthusiastic fans on Tumblr who encouraged others to listen in. Since the show has no visuals, many fans like to draw their interpretations of various characters and scenes, even writing their own episodes or interpreting previous episodes in video form. If you want to check out Night Vale's community on Tumblr, the -Welcome To Night Vale is a great place to get started.
Image: Tumblr, treatsforme
Much like Pinterest and Instagram, many Tumblrs are dedicated to taking pictures of their gorgeous looking meals or snacks. This type of media is often referred to as "food porn."
Among these blogs, some users create homemade meals plus the recipes on how to make them. These users are often happy to answer questions about techniques, ingredients and other culinary inquiries, so their followers can replicate the dish at home.
See also: The Beginner's Guide to Tumblr
Other users take pictures of food from restaurants and post them with the restaurant information and dish name. This is great for Tumblr users who like to travel or who want to find new restaurants in their own backyard, complete with pictures. It's especially helpful for people with specific diets, for example, vegetarians, vegans or those who keep kosher or halal. Many users with special dietary needs tend to have their own Tumblr blogs about finding restaurants that cater to those diets.
Other blogs, like We Are Always Hungry, take or reblog photos of delicious food you'll never be able to eat — just to torture your tastebuds.
Feast Upon This!
Food Porn
Pretty Foods
Image: Tumblr, fitforyouandme.
If you're looking to lose weight in a healthy way and want some support, the Fitspo community on Tumblr could help inspire you.
Often called "fitspo" or "fitsoporation," this Tumblr subculture is all about fitness and dieting. Unlike "thinspiration," fitspo focuses just on eating right and working out to achieve better health, rather than simply lose pounds. Users often post workout regimens, healthy snack recipes and inspirational quotes and images, like the one above.
While typically society's model of better health involves a thin woman or muscular man, the community embraces all members trying gain a better life through daily exercise and a good diet. Those in the community often post before-and-after pictures of themselves as they improve their healthy habits.
The Ultimate Fitspo
Healthy is the New Skinny
Fitsporationale
Image: Tumblr, Fit and Healthy
If you're happy just the way you are, there's a movement on Tumblr for you, too. Body positivity advocates self-acceptance and health at any size, while simultaneously speaking out against body-shaming and fat-shaming. Posters in this tag tend to be supportive of those who want to lose weight, as well as those happy with their size, and encourage all to lead fun and active lives.
Posts from this community tend to be quotes about accepting who you are in the face of harassment and hostile language, discussions with people about daily challenges and encouragement to get through one day at a time. Posters also showcase pictures of their own bodies of all different types and sizes in an act of taking control of their own self-image and feeling comfortable in their own, despite what others may say.
Adios Barbie
A Better Place
My Dear Body
Some users are active in fighting against social injustices, including racism, misogyny, homophobia, trans-phobia, etc. Sometimes called "social justice warriors," users who partakes in this subculture often consider themselves allies of various demographics, like the LGBTQ community or the African-American community, and take it upon themselves to educate others about the issues facing said groups.
These users also log on to spread important information about troubling events, whether they're on the news or spread by word-of-mouth. They organize online petitions, boycotts and other forms of peaceful protest. Typical posts also include upsetting news about hate crimes or discrimination, in-depth discussions about social and racial issues and general attempts to raise awareness on Tumblr. While there are not a lot of blog dedicated solely to social justice, unless they are in opposition to it, there is a community of users who reblog social justice content.
The Roots Project
The Raging Social Justice Blogger
Social Issues in Education
Image: Tumblr, oceanrosekt
Can't resist baby bunnies, puppies and kittens? Luckily for you, there is no shortage of adorable animal posts on Tumblr, with entire blogs dedicated to reblogging cuddly pets in both picture and video form, for your enjoyment. Whether real or animated, you'll find Tumblrs dedicated to pictures of rabbits, like Awesome Bunnies, or to felines, like Derpy Cats.
If you're into animals that aren't considered conventionally cute, such as lizards, spiders or platypuses, there are still plenty of posts for you. Even snakes have a Tumblr dedicated to their cuteness, called Cute Snakes!
Puppies Galore
Fuck Yeah Cute Animals!
Cute Pets Daily
Tumblr is a great way to get your art out there. Many artists use it to interact with fans, while others find it's an easy place to share original pieces, fan art and fun little doodles. Webcomic artists can post their own series without having to pay for a separate server, and use the platform to increase their viewership.
Tumblr blogs can also act as an interactive online portfolios, where artists showcase their best work and share it with both followers and potential employers alike.
If you do happen to reblog a piece of art from someone's blog, make sure to keep the image credit — art thieves are an issue on Tumblr.
deviantFinds
I Heart My Art
Eat Sleep Draw
Image: Tumblr,Disney Ladies from Last Night
These types of blogs collect all different types of media and reblog or post submissions daily, usually from specific fandoms or for certain situations.
A good example is whatshouldwecallme, a blog dedicated to posting GIFs that correspond to specific life events and daily occurrences. Or find your favorite type of meme with Advice Animals. But picture blogs represent the biggest category. Some just reblog funny pictures, while others, like Disney Ladies from Last Night (above), use screengrabs from different movies, television shows, etc. paired with captions.
Whatshouldwecallsinglelife
Texts From Last Night: harry Potter Style
The Daily Meme
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Image: Mashable composite. iStock, artvea, Tumblr