Eternal September

The Eternal September is a concept that describes the perceived decline in the quality of discourse and the erosion of established community norms within online spaces, triggered by a continuous and overwhelming influx of new users who are unfamiliar with the existing culture and rules of engagement. This phenomenon is most famously associated with the early days of Usenet, but its principles have proven applicable to many online communities throughout the history of the internet.

The Origin: A September That Never Ended

Before September 1993, Usenet, a global decentralized discussion system, experienced a predictable pattern of user influx. Each year, as the academic year began, universities would grant access to new students, who would then gradually learn the unwritten rules of online interaction, commonly known as netiquette. This period of onboarding and assimilation typically lasted about a month, after which the community would return to a more stable state.

This cycle was dramatically broken in September 1993 when America Online (AOL), a rapidly expanding commercial internet service provider, began offering Usenet access to its vast subscriber base. Unlike the university-bound newcomers, AOL's users joined at any time, and their sheer numbers were unprecedented. This created a perpetual influx of new users, overwhelming the existing community's capacity to educate and integrate them.

The term "Eternal September" (or "September that never ended") is credited to Usenet user Dave Fischer, who first articulated the observation in a post to the alt.folklore.computers newsgroup on January 26, 1994. He noted that the usual seasonal influx of inexperienced users had become a permanent condition, fundamentally altering the Usenet experience. Similar sentiments were being expressed by other users around the same time, highlighting a shared sense of disruption.

Mechanisms and Impact on Online Discourse

The core mechanism of the Eternal September lies in the dilution of existing norms. When a community has a relatively stable user base, newcomers can be effectively guided by established members, and shared cultural understandings are reinforced. However, when the rate of new user entry far exceeds the community's ability to socialize them, several negative consequences can arise:

Degradation of Discourse: New users, unaware of proper posting etiquette, often engage in behaviors that disrupt discussions. This includes frequent off-topic posts, excessive "flame wars" (hostile arguments), spamming, and generally low-quality contributions.
Erosion of Community Norms: Established rules of behavior, inside jokes, and shared cultural references can be drowned out by the sheer volume of new participants who are not privy to this history or do not understand its importance.
Alienation of Experienced Users: Long-time participants, often referred to as "old-timers," can become frustrated and disengaged by the perceived decline in quality and the constant need to re-explain basic principles. This can lead to them leaving the community or seeking out smaller, more exclusive groups.
Shift in Internet Culture: The Eternal September is often viewed as a pivotal moment in the internet's transition from a niche, technically-oriented space to a mass medium. It marked a significant step in making the internet accessible to a broader, less technically savvy audience, with both positive and challenging implications.

Real-World Examples and Broader Applications

While the Eternal September originated on Usenet, the underlying dynamic has been observed in numerous online communities and platforms as they experience rapid growth:

Reddit: The platform has faced its own "Eternal September" moments, particularly during periods of explosive growth or when major news events drive massive influxes of new users. These events often lead to discussions about the dilution of subreddit cultures and the challenges of content moderation.
Social Media Platforms: The general phenomenon of new user onboarding impacting existing community dynamics is a recurring theme across platforms like Facebook, Twitter (now X), and Instagram. Rapid user acquisition can strain moderation resources and lead to the spread of misinformation or the breakdown of civil discourse.
Online Gaming Communities: Games with a sudden surge in popularity, often due to viral trends or major updates, can experience a temporary "Eternal September" effect. New players may be unfamiliar with game mechanics, team communication protocols, or the unwritten rules of player interaction, leading to frustration for existing players.
Online Forums and Fan Communities: Any online group that experiences a sudden spike in membership, whether through external promotion, media attention, or a viral event, is susceptible to the Eternal September dynamic.

Practical Implications and Community Management

Understanding the Eternal September offers crucial insights for anyone involved in building or managing online communities:

Proactive Onboarding: Communities need robust onboarding processes that clearly communicate rules, expectations, and cultural norms to new members. This can involve welcome messages, pinned FAQ posts, and dedicated new-user forums.
Scalable Moderation: As communities grow, moderation strategies must scale accordingly. This might involve empowering trusted community members, utilizing automated moderation tools, and having clear, consistently enforced guidelines.
Community Governance: Establishing clear structures for community governance, including how rules are made, enforced, and updated, is vital for long-term health and adaptability.
Digital Literacy Education: The concept underscores the ongoing need for digital literacy education, emphasizing the importance of teaching responsible online behavior, critical thinking, and the nuances of online communication.
Balancing Inclusivity and Culture: Community managers often face the challenge of balancing the desire for inclusivity and growth with the need to preserve the community's established culture and quality of discourse. This requires careful consideration of how new members are integrated and how norms are maintained.

The Eternal September is closely linked to several other concepts:

Netiquette: The fundamental unwritten rules of online behavior that the Eternal September challenged and often broke.
Tragedy of the Commons: An economic theory where individuals, acting in their own self-interest, deplete a shared resource. In the context of online communities, this can be seen as the collective impact of many new users, each acting without regard for the shared online space, ultimately degrading it.
Gatekeeping: The practice of controlling access to a community or resource, often based on perceived knowledge or adherence to norms. The Eternal September can be seen as a failure of effective gatekeeping or a deliberate dismantling of it.
Network Effects: While more users generally increase a network's value, the Eternal September illustrates how unchecked growth without proper integration can diminish that value for existing users.

Debates and Nuances

The concept of Eternal September is not without its debates:

"Eternal" Nature: Critics argue that no September is truly "eternal." Online communities are dynamic and evolve. While initial disruptions are significant, communities often adapt, and new norms can emerge. The term might be more accurately descriptive of a prolonged or permanent shift rather than an unending state of chaos.
Blame vs. Evolution: There is a discussion about whether Eternal September was a catastrophic event that destroyed Usenet or a natural, albeit difficult, phase in the internet's evolution towards mass adoption. Some argue that the underlying technical and social infrastructure of Usenet was not equipped to handle such a rapid transition.
Nostalgia: The concept can sometimes be tinged with nostalgia for an earlier, perceived "golden age" of the internet, overlooking the fact that even early online communities had their own conflicts and challenges.

In essence, the Eternal September serves as a powerful metaphor and a historical lesson about the inherent challenges of scaling online communities. It highlights the delicate interplay between growth, cultural preservation, and the ongoing need for thoughtful community management and digital citizenship.