Tumblr TV launches as a TikTok alternative.
(This is what happens when timing meets opportunity.)
In 2015, Tumblr experimented with a feature called Tumblr TV—a hub for discovering GIFs.
Fast forward to today, and it’s evolved into a video-forward experience aimed at filling a gap TikTok’s uncertainty left behind.
Here’s what makes this interesting:
• Timing is everything. With TikTok bans looming in the U.S., Tumblr seized the moment to bring this dormant project to life.
• Demand drives innovation. On the day of TikTok’s U.S. ban, Tumblr installs spiked by 35% on iOS and Communities grew by 70%.
• Execution matters. Tumblr TV isn’t perfect—it still struggles with vertical video formats—but it’s a bold step toward capturing displaced users.
The question remains:
Will TikTok users see Tumblr TV as a viable alternative or just a backup plan?
Tumblr’s nearly-forgotten experiment found new life at the perfect time.