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'''4chan''' is an anonymous imageboard website founded in 2003 by Christopher "moot" Poole, divided into several "boards" for discussion of different topics. It is known for its [[Far-right politics|far-right]] content; its users are almost exclusively male and frequently use [[Racism|racist]], [[Sexism|sexist]], and [[Anti-Semitism|anti-Semitic]] slurs.<ref>{{Web citation|author=Tim Squirrell|newspaper=Quartz|title=Linguistic data analysis of 3 billion Reddit comments shows the alt-right is getting stronger|date=2017-08-18|url=https://qz.com/1056319/what-is-the-alt-right-a-linguistic-data-analysis-of-3-billion-reddit-comments-shows-a-disparate-group-that-is-quickly-uniting/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708222813/https://qz.com/|archive-date=2022-07-08|retrieved=2022-08-08}}</ref> Multiple far-right movements have originated on 4chan, including [[QAnon]]<ref>{{Web citation|author=Olivia Riggio|newspaper=[[Monthly Review]]|title=YouTube’s biggest info channels carry corporate news, not alternative views|date=2022-06-09|url=https://mronline.org/2022/06/09/youtubes-biggest-info-channels-carry-corporate-news-not-alternative-views/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614015926/https://mronline.org/2022/06/09/youtubes-biggest-info-channels-carry-corporate-news-not-alternative-views/|archive-date=2022-06-14|retrieved=2022-08-08}}</ref> and the [[Boogaloo movement|Boogaloo boys]].<ref>{{Web citation|author=Diane Ravitch|newspaper=[[Monthly Review]]|title=What is the Bougaloo Movement?|date=2020-06-05|url=https://mronline.org/2020/06/05/what-is-the-bougaloo-movement/|retrieved=2022-08-08}}</ref> | '''4chan''' is an anonymous imageboard website founded in 2003 by Christopher "moot" Poole, divided into several "boards" for discussion of different topics. It is known for its [[Far-right politics|far-right]] content; its users are almost exclusively male and frequently use [[Racism|racist]], [[Sexism|sexist]], and [[Anti-Semitism|anti-Semitic]] slurs.<ref>{{Web citation|author=Tim Squirrell|newspaper=Quartz|title=Linguistic data analysis of 3 billion Reddit comments shows the alt-right is getting stronger|date=2017-08-18|url=https://qz.com/1056319/what-is-the-alt-right-a-linguistic-data-analysis-of-3-billion-reddit-comments-shows-a-disparate-group-that-is-quickly-uniting/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708222813/https://qz.com/|archive-date=2022-07-08|retrieved=2022-08-08}}</ref> Multiple far-right movements have originated on 4chan, including [[QAnon]]<ref>{{Web citation|author=Olivia Riggio|newspaper=[[Monthly Review]]|title=YouTube’s biggest info channels carry corporate news, not alternative views|date=2022-06-09|url=https://mronline.org/2022/06/09/youtubes-biggest-info-channels-carry-corporate-news-not-alternative-views/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614015926/https://mronline.org/2022/06/09/youtubes-biggest-info-channels-carry-corporate-news-not-alternative-views/|archive-date=2022-06-14|retrieved=2022-08-08}}</ref> and the [[Boogaloo movement|Boogaloo boys]].<ref>{{Web citation|author=Diane Ravitch|newspaper=[[Monthly Review]]|title=What is the Bougaloo Movement?|date=2020-06-05|url=https://mronline.org/2020/06/05/what-is-the-bougaloo-movement/|retrieved=2022-08-08}}</ref> | ||
=== Origins and early development === | |||
4chan was launched on October 1, 2003, by Christopher "moot" Poole, a 15-year-old student from New York City.<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Meet Christopher Poole, the mysterious founder of 4Chan|date=2014-09-03|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/09/03/meet-christopher-poole-the-mysterious-founder-of-4chan/|retrieved=2026-05-03}}</ref><ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=AP News|title=Q&A: What is 4chan and where did it come from?|date=2014-11-07|url=https://apnews.com/article/----|retrieved=2026-05-03}}</ref> Poole, who posted under the handle "moot" (always lowercase), had been an active member of the [[Something Awful]] forums, specifically the "''Anime Death Tentacle Rape Whorehouse''" (ADTRW) subforum, where early discussions about creating an English-language imageboard took place.<ref name="bibanon">{{Web citation|newspaper=bibanon GitHub Wiki|title=4chan Genesis|url=https://github-wiki-see.page/m/bibanon/bibanon/wiki/4chan---Genesis|retrieved=2026-05-03}}</ref> | |||
The site was built by directly adapting the source code and board structure of the Japanese imageboard [[Futaba Channel]] (2chan), which Poole translated into English with the help of a small group of early collaborators from the ADTRW and world2ch communities, including users known as Shii, thatdog, and hova.<ref name="bibanon" /><ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=Wikibooks|title=4chan Chronicle|url=https://wikibook.tw/wiki/4chan_Chronicle|retrieved=2026-05-03}}</ref> 4chan initially consisted of just two boards: /a/ (Anime) and /b/ (Random).<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=The Guardian|title=The 20-year-old at heart of web's most anarchic and influential site|date=2008-07-19|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2008/jul/20/internet.google|retrieved=2026-05-03}}</ref> | |||
=== Jeffrey Epstein and the origins of /pol/ === | |||
In January 2026, millions of pages from the [[Jeffrey Epstein]] files were released by the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]].<ref name="axios-epstein">{{Web citation|author=Axios|title=Why the Epstein scandal may never die|date=2026-02-03|url=https://www.axios.com/2026/02/03/epstein-files-scandal-major-takeaways|retrieved=2026-05-03}}</ref> Among the documents were emails showing that Epstein met with 4chan founder Christopher “moot” Poole in October 2011, the same month 4chan launched its “Politically Incorrect” board /pol/.<ref name="msnow">{{Web citation|author=Ja'han Jones|newspaper=MS NOW|title=Epstein met with 4chan’s founder just as the site’s infamous political thread began|date=2026-02-05|url=https://www.ms.now/opinion/jeffrey-epstein-4chan-chris-poole|retrieved=2026-05-03}}</ref><ref name="kyrm">{{Web citation|newspaper=Know Your Meme|title=Jeffrey Epstein 4chan Connection|date=2026-01-31|url=https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/jeffrey-epstein-4chan-connection|retrieved=2026-05-03}}</ref> | |||
The introduction was arranged by [[Boris Nikolic]], an adviser to [[Bill Gates]], who described Poole as a “cool guy” and linked to his Wikipedia page.<ref name="msnow"/> After the meeting, Epstein wrote “i liked mmot slot. i drove him home, he is very bright.” ["i liked moot a lot", presumably].<ref name="msnow"/> Four days later, Nikolic emailed Epstein about 4chan’s potential for political manipulation, writing: “This article describes why I find moot interesting. The potential for manipulation is huge.”<ref name="msnow"/><ref name="hoot">{{Web citation|newspaper=The Brandeis Hoot|title=How Epstein Created the Modern Political Environment|date=2026-02-27|url=https://brandeishoot.com/how-epstein-created-the-modern-political-environment/|retrieved=2026-05-03}}</ref> | |||
/pol/'s creation coincided almost simultaneously with the Epstein–Poole meeting, and the board rapidly became a cesspool of [[White supremacy|white supremacist]], [[Neo-Nazism|neo-Nazi]] and QAnon content.<ref name="msnow"/><ref name="hoot"/> The release of the emails gave rise to a widespread conspiracy theory that Epstein himself had created /pol/—or at least encouraged its launch—as a vehicle for far‑right propaganda and mass manipulation.<ref name="kyrm"/> Poole has denied any connection, insisting that the board was added before his chance encounter with Epstein and that their single lunch meeting was “unmemorable,” though many people implicated in the Files have also said so to distance themselves from Epstein.<ref name="verge">{{Web citation|author=Richard Lawler|newspaper=The Verge|title=4chan’s creator says ‘Epstein had nothing to do’ with creating infamous far-right board /pol/|date=2026-02-13|url=https://www.theverge.com/tech/879132/moot-4chan-jeffrey-epstein-meeting-pol|retrieved=2026-05-03}}</ref> Nevertheless, the documents expose how figures of the [[bourgeoisie]] recognize and engineer the utility of an anonymous, unregulated platform for steering political discourse toward the far right. | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 18:05, 3 May 2026
4chan is an anonymous imageboard website founded in 2003 by Christopher "moot" Poole, divided into several "boards" for discussion of different topics. It is known for its far-right content; its users are almost exclusively male and frequently use racist, sexist, and anti-Semitic slurs.[1] Multiple far-right movements have originated on 4chan, including QAnon[2] and the Boogaloo boys.[3]
Origins and early development
4chan was launched on October 1, 2003, by Christopher "moot" Poole, a 15-year-old student from New York City.[4][5] Poole, who posted under the handle "moot" (always lowercase), had been an active member of the Something Awful forums, specifically the "Anime Death Tentacle Rape Whorehouse" (ADTRW) subforum, where early discussions about creating an English-language imageboard took place.[6]
The site was built by directly adapting the source code and board structure of the Japanese imageboard Futaba Channel (2chan), which Poole translated into English with the help of a small group of early collaborators from the ADTRW and world2ch communities, including users known as Shii, thatdog, and hova.[6][7] 4chan initially consisted of just two boards: /a/ (Anime) and /b/ (Random).[8]
Jeffrey Epstein and the origins of /pol/
In January 2026, millions of pages from the Jeffrey Epstein files were released by the U.S. Department of Justice.[9] Among the documents were emails showing that Epstein met with 4chan founder Christopher “moot” Poole in October 2011, the same month 4chan launched its “Politically Incorrect” board /pol/.[10][11]
The introduction was arranged by Boris Nikolic, an adviser to Bill Gates, who described Poole as a “cool guy” and linked to his Wikipedia page.[10] After the meeting, Epstein wrote “i liked mmot slot. i drove him home, he is very bright.” ["i liked moot a lot", presumably].[10] Four days later, Nikolic emailed Epstein about 4chan’s potential for political manipulation, writing: “This article describes why I find moot interesting. The potential for manipulation is huge.”[10][12]
/pol/'s creation coincided almost simultaneously with the Epstein–Poole meeting, and the board rapidly became a cesspool of white supremacist, neo-Nazi and QAnon content.[10][12] The release of the emails gave rise to a widespread conspiracy theory that Epstein himself had created /pol/—or at least encouraged its launch—as a vehicle for far‑right propaganda and mass manipulation.[11] Poole has denied any connection, insisting that the board was added before his chance encounter with Epstein and that their single lunch meeting was “unmemorable,” though many people implicated in the Files have also said so to distance themselves from Epstein.[13] Nevertheless, the documents expose how figures of the bourgeoisie recognize and engineer the utility of an anonymous, unregulated platform for steering political discourse toward the far right.
References
- ↑ Tim Squirrell (2017-08-18). "Linguistic data analysis of 3 billion Reddit comments shows the alt-right is getting stronger" Quartz. Archived from the original on 2022-07-08. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
- ↑ Olivia Riggio (2022-06-09). "YouTube’s biggest info channels carry corporate news, not alternative views" Monthly Review. Archived from the original on 2022-06-14. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
- ↑ Diane Ravitch (2020-06-05). "What is the Bougaloo Movement?" Monthly Review. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
- ↑ "Meet Christopher Poole, the mysterious founder of 4Chan" (2014-09-03). The Washington Post. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ "Q&A: What is 4chan and where did it come from?" (2014-11-07). AP News. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "4chan Genesis". bibanon GitHub Wiki. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ "4chan Chronicle". Wikibooks. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ "The 20-year-old at heart of web's most anarchic and influential site" (2008-07-19). The Guardian. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ Axios (2026-02-03). "Why the Epstein scandal may never die" Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Ja'han Jones (2026-02-05). "Epstein met with 4chan’s founder just as the site’s infamous political thread began" MS NOW. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Jeffrey Epstein 4chan Connection" (2026-01-31). Know Your Meme. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "How Epstein Created the Modern Political Environment" (2026-02-27). The Brandeis Hoot. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ↑ Richard Lawler (2026-02-13). "4chan’s creator says ‘Epstein had nothing to do’ with creating infamous far-right board /pol/" The Verge. Retrieved 2026-05-03.