KnowYourMeme Sunset
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About
KnowYourMeme Sunset refers to the discontinuation and sunsetting of KnowYourMeme's old UI, intending to push users to using the new user interface (UI). This action, seen as forcing a partially-finished product on the site's users, has been very controversial and has caused many users to leave the site in protest.
History
Around April of 2024, a UI update was pushed to KnowYourMeme with little to no advance notice. This UI was very unpopular with the userbase, with both the new and old layouts having a large amount of bugs. A large amount of users still preferred to use the old layout via use of the "Old Site" button, and users posted original content to the site's gallery to complain about the new layout.
Origin
On May 12, 2025 KnowYourMeme staff member Zach posted a thread[1] to the KnowYourMeme forums that the old site layout was going to be fully shut down to completely focus on the new UI and to be favoured more by Google Search. This sparked a heavy backlash from the userbase, with Zach's post having 133 downvotes as of August 18, 2025 and making a large number of site users deactivate or delete their accounts in protest.
Spread
Zach's thread began to be filled with complaints about the new website, with many users saying they were going to deactivate or delete their accounts in protest.
On May 21, 2025, user RamdomGuy2013 posted an image called "Sunset" (shown below), being a collage of prominent users on an island watching the sun set over the website, which as of August 19, 2025 has 103 likes, over 6,400 views and 157 comments.[2]
RamdomGuy3013 also posted a thread titled "KnowYourMeme Sunset", complaining of the sunsetting of the old UI and as of August 19, 2025 has over 7,500 views. [3]
These all garnered attention from the KnowYourMeme community, with a number of veteran and legacy users seeing this as the last straw to them, sharing their favourite memories from the website and deactivating or deleting their accounts in protest.
Many users saw this matching the pattern of enshittification, with a new, advertiser-friendly layout being forced on users despite having unpatched bugs.
External References
[1] KnowYourMeme Forums – Old Site Being Sunset
[3] KnowYourMeme Forums – KnowYourMeme Sunset
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Comments ( 183 )
I don't know why KYM insists on keeping this UI as it's not only horrifically buggy but has also slowed traffic to a crawl. Even trending images reflect this, with stuff still there from September.
I don't know why KYM insists on keeping this UI as it's not only horrifically buggy but has also slowed traffic to a crawl. Even trending images reflect this, with stuff still there from September.
Never did much around here beside lurking, but R.I.P Know your meme, i hope that at least your necrotic body will still work as an archive for so much random obscure advice animals memes and softcore prono
Never did much around here beside lurking, but R.I.P Know your meme, i hope that at least your necrotic body will still work as an archive for so much random obscure advice animals memes and softcore prono
It's funny when you click every one of the user's profile the old ui is still there.
It's funny when you click every one of the user's profile the old ui is still there.
But if you close your eyes~
But if you close your eyes~
THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN EMOJIS WON'T RENDER
THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN EMOJIS WON'T RENDER
Επέσατε θύματα αδέλφια εσείς
Σε άνιση πάλη κι αγω-ω-ώ-ω-να
Επέσατε θύματα αδέλφια εσείς
Σε άνιση πάλη κι αγω-ω-ώ-ω-να
LOOKS LIKE DELETING YOUR CRINGE TAKES IS BACK ON THE MENU, BOYS
LOOKS LIKE DELETING YOUR CRINGE TAKES IS BACK ON THE MENU, BOYS
I've been a lurker here since around when the gamergate stuff was happening, but I've only made my account relatively recently. I've enjoyed learning what was currently popular through the trending images tab and enjoyed reading banter in the comments section. This place even helped me find artists such as centurii-chan and Khyle.
I hope this site improves somehow (The new trending tab sucks), but good luck to the users in the meantime; I've got a lot I'm thankful for because of them
I've been a lurker here since around when the gamergate stuff was happening, but I've only made my account relatively recently. I've enjoyed learning what was currently popular through the trending images tab and enjoyed reading banter in the comments section. This place even helped me find artists such as centurii-chan and Khyle.
I hope this site improves somehow (The new trending tab sucks), but good luck to the users in the meantime; I've got a lot I'm thankful for because of them
So this is the way Know Your Meme ends, not with a bang but a whimper. I've been visiting this place for well over a decade, 1/3 of my life. It's a shame to see it go this path.
So this is the way Know Your Meme ends, not with a bang but a whimper. I've been visiting this place for well over a decade, 1/3 of my life. It's a shame to see it go this path.
The trending images has turned to an almost constant static set of images for weeks now. This sure doesn't feel like an improvement.
The trending images has turned to an almost constant static set of images for weeks now. This sure doesn't feel like an improvement.
"If it works, don't fix it", is what should have been in mind before the UI was changed. I loved the variety of funny comments and images of this site and how it reminded me of old 2000's era websites/forums, and sad to see all of that potentially disappear into nothingness. Seeing as so many old users having already left because of the unwanted change doesn't seem like a good sign.
"If it works, don't fix it", is what should have been in mind before the UI was changed. I loved the variety of funny comments and images of this site and how it reminded me of old 2000's era websites/forums, and sad to see all of that potentially disappear into nothingness. Seeing as so many old users having already left because of the unwanted change doesn't seem like a good sign.
This is bad and the admins should feel bad
This is bad and the admins should feel bad
Very appropriate username
Very appropriate username
Given that they so clearly don't give a fuck I'm honestly surprised they haven't just nuked the comments section and replaced it with a Facebook or Disqus embed and the forums with a Reddit link like every other site did 10 years ago.
I'm not even sure what's worse at this point. Like this is very obviously killing the community, just slowly instead of a quick death
Given that they so clearly don't give a fuck I'm honestly surprised they haven't just nuked the comments section and replaced it with a Facebook or Disqus embed and the forums with a Reddit link like every other site did 10 years ago.
I'm not even sure what's worse at this point. Like this is very obviously killing the community, just slowly instead of a quick death
"And the forums with a reddit link"
I want to die
"And the forums with a reddit link"
I want to die
Still no edit button btw
Still no edit button btw
How the fuck did they make things worse again? Honestly they should have binned the redesign not the old us, cause none of these fucking problems were there before this shitty redesign started. Are they trying to code with ai or some shit like that?
How the fuck did they make things worse again? Honestly they should have binned the redesign not the old us, cause none of these fucking problems were there before this shitty redesign started. Are they trying to code with ai or some shit like that?
replies don't appear under the comments they're replying to anymore, surely this issue will be noticed and fixed within a reasonable amount of time
replies don't appear under the comments they're replying to anymore, surely this issue will be noticed and fixed within a reasonable amount of time
It's one step forward and ten back with whoever is coding this. How do you screw up so badly?
Hire someone competent, for heaven's sake.
It's one step forward and ten back with whoever is coding this. How do you screw up so badly?
Hire someone competent, for heaven's sake.
I have literally zero doubt at this point that the venture capital bros who own this site have decreed that the new UI's code will be written and maintained by ChatGPT or some bullshit as a cost-saving measure. Like, genuinely, the fact that this keeps getting WORSE makes me think that this is some AI-powered vibe coding shit and that nobody who actually knows what they're doing is touching this.
(for context until this godawful bullshit is fixed: this comment is a reply to TheHolyEmpress's comment two down from here. isn't this new UI just fucking FABULOUS????)
I have literally zero doubt at this point that the venture capital bros who own this site have decreed that the new UI's code will be written and maintained by ChatGPT or some bullshit as a cost-saving measure. Like, genuinely, the fact that this keeps getting WORSE makes me think that this is some AI-powered vibe coding shit and that nobody who actually knows what they're doing is touching this.
(for context until this godawful bullshit is fixed: this comment is a reply to TheHolyEmpress's comment two down from here. isn't this new UI just fucking FABULOUS????)
AND YOU CAN'T DELETE COMMENTS ANYMORE
OH FUCK OH SHIT
AND YOU CAN'T DELETE COMMENTS ANYMORE
OH FUCK OH SHIT
Let's see…
Left a reply to a comment, it got shown at a completely different point in the comments section at the top level without any way of knowing what it's a reply to, making it look like schizoposting.
On top of not being able to edit comments (which is fine), the option to delete comments has also been removed, both on the new AND old designs where the old design can still be used.
Comment voting no longer disables the voting options upon leaving a vote already, instead just telling you via an alert message that you "can't vote twice" upon trying.
Add Comment button, since the beginning, STILL overlaps the text box, obscuring some of it.
Profiles still use the old design which, while good, cripples some functionality like leaderboards and commenting on profiles.
KYM, forget falling apart at the seams. You've literally just turned this site's social systems into a massive clump of fabrics on the floor with little rhyme or reason.
Let's see…
Left a reply to a comment, it got shown at a completely different point in the comments section at the top level without any way of knowing what it's a reply to, making it look like schizoposting.
On top of not being able to edit comments (which is fine), the option to delete comments has also been removed, both on the new AND old designs where the old design can still be used.
Comment voting no longer disables the voting options upon leaving a vote already, instead just telling you via an alert message that you "can't vote twice" upon trying.
Add Comment button, since the beginning, STILL overlaps the text box, obscuring some of it.
Profiles still use the old design which, while good, cripples some functionality like leaderboards and commenting on profiles.
KYM, forget falling apart at the seams. You've literally just turned this site's social systems into a massive clump of fabrics on the floor with little rhyme or reason.
Replying to your comment to test that out in case you're to gaslitght me.
Otherwise HOW does a site screw up so badly?!
Replying to your comment to test that out in case you're to gaslitght me.
Otherwise HOW does a site screw up so badly?!
it's legitimately impossible to follow conversations in the comments section any more. hell this comment that i'm currently posting? nobody is going to be able to tell that it's a reply to another comment.
it's legitimately impossible to follow conversations in the comments section any more. hell this comment that i'm currently posting? nobody is going to be able to tell that it's a reply to another comment.
yeah…i haven't veered away even slightly from potentially convincing myself this site should just be nuked
a new one is starting to look fairly likely (even if it'll take time) and we always have archival sites to fall back on
problem is i hope it doesn't just come out of nowhere and there's time to prepare
yeah…i haven't veered away even slightly from potentially convincing myself this site should just be nuked
a new one is starting to look fairly likely (even if it'll take time) and we always have archival sites to fall back on
problem is i hope it doesn't just come out of nowhere and there's time to prepare
Good page. +1 confirm, as the tradition goes.
Good page. +1 confirm, as the tradition goes.
KYM peaked many years before and was sliding gradually for several years now but this UI pretty much destroyed any chance of a comeback. I'm glad to have seen it in its best version back then.
KYM peaked many years before and was sliding gradually for several years now but this UI pretty much destroyed any chance of a comeback. I'm glad to have seen it in its best version back then.
I joined up during gamergate, in my edgy teen days. In my limited, ignorant opinion as someone who never really participated in the forums, there was a brief golden age for this site from like, 2018 to 2022 where this was truly one of my favorite places to go for entertainment news, memes, and even current events. Now… JESUS. I can barely stand to LOOK at the site with this UI.
I joined up during gamergate, in my edgy teen days. In my limited, ignorant opinion as someone who never really participated in the forums, there was a brief golden age for this site from like, 2018 to 2022 where this was truly one of my favorite places to go for entertainment news, memes, and even current events. Now… JESUS. I can barely stand to LOOK at the site with this UI.
You know this is kind of wholesome but also bitter-sweet at the same time. Really wish the new UI didn't nuke the past leaderboard stats but those seem like they will be lost to time…
You know this is kind of wholesome but also bitter-sweet at the same time. Really wish the new UI didn't nuke the past leaderboard stats but those seem like they will be lost to time…
I was wondering if someone would make a fan-made legacy version of KYM, I doubt that this will ever happen.
I was wondering if someone would make a fan-made legacy version of KYM, I doubt that this will ever happen.
Wll we are trying to…but I share your doubts shit has been kind of hard
Wll we are trying to…but I share your doubts shit has been kind of hard
emphasis on we…I am just the programmer, we have another guy as the leader, other guys trying to come up with the rules and what to do, two other guys are responsible for modding the discord server and keeping me on a leach,some for moral support and memes and we have two artists too.
We REALLY need another programmer, like we could use as many programmers as possible… but what you gonna do…
So there is that
emphasis on we…I am just the programmer, we have another guy as the leader, other guys trying to come up with the rules and what to do, two other guys are responsible for modding the discord server and keeping me on a leach,some for moral support and memes and we have two artists too.
We REALLY need another programmer, like we could use as many programmers as possible… but what you gonna do…
So there is that
Dont fret, with the power of pirated dreamweaver I got this fam:
Dont fret, with the power of pirated dreamweaver I got this fam:
Congrats, dude. Congrats.
Congrats, dude. Congrats.
Alternate, less eye straining theme
Alternate, less eye straining theme
Dont fret, with the power of pirated dreamweaver I got this fam:
Dont fret, with the power of pirated dreamweaver I got this fam:
You know, maybe with your incessant posting on every single discussion still active on this site, you're only serving to drive people away even faster? Ever think of that? Take a goddamn break before you do even further damage, for Christ's sake.
You know, maybe with your incessant posting on every single discussion still active on this site, you're only serving to drive people away even faster? Ever think of that? Take a goddamn break before you do even further damage, for Christ's sake.
Y'know if this was just another one of his ramblings then I'd be fine with you saying that, but this post is him taking a shot at making his own, potentially better version of the site. Something he explicitly promised he'd do. Several times.
I fail to see how keeping your word is a bad thing.
Y'know if this was just another one of his ramblings then I'd be fine with you saying that, but this post is him taking a shot at making his own, potentially better version of the site. Something he explicitly promised he'd do. Several times.
I fail to see how keeping your word is a bad thing.
That's fair. I was responding less to that particular post and just picking a random one among the deluge to comment on, but I get your point.
That's fair. I was responding less to that particular post and just picking a random one among the deluge to comment on, but I get your point.
in relation to your original comment, no offence but unless you can show me how to build a time machine it really doesnt matter anymore like at all…
in relation to your original comment, no offence but unless you can show me how to build a time machine it really doesnt matter anymore like at all…