Recently, anime streaming giant Crunchyroll made a significant change by disabling the comment sections on its platform, including both its streaming service and news site. This decision left many users wondering, Why Did Crunchyroll Remove Comments? The move comes as a response to a surge of negative feedback, review bombing, and a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ commentary that targeted the platform, particularly around new anime series and subtitle quality.
Crunchyroll’s official statement explained that this change is aimed at “reduc[ing] harmful content, prevent[ing] misinformation, and improve overall user experience.” In a more detailed explanation on their help website, Crunchyroll emphasized their priority in “creating a safe and respectful community environment.” They stated the removal of all user-generated content, including comments, was necessary to maintain this standard across all their platforms. Despite the removal of comments, the user rating system, which allows viewers to rate content with stars, remains active.
The catalyst for this decision appears to be a combination of factors. Firstly, the platform experienced review bombing, a phenomenon where users coordinate to flood a particular piece of content with negative reviews, often regardless of its actual quality. Secondly, Crunchyroll faced a barrage of anti-LGBTQ+ comments. These issues seem to have been exacerbated by reactions to the anime series Twilight Out of Focus and criticisms regarding the subtitle quality of My Deer Friend Nokotan. Some viewers speculated that the subtitles for My Deer Friend Nokotan were AI-generated due to perceived poor quality, further fueling negative commentary.
Alt text: Dynamic scene from Dragon Ball Z anime, showcasing Goku and Vegeta in fighting stances, representing Crunchyroll’s vast library of anime content.
The removal of comments has understandably sparked frustration within the anime community. Crunchyroll, boasting a massive library of over 45,000 episodes and a subscriber base that has grown to around 13 million, has become a central hub for anime fans worldwide. Users have turned to social media platforms like Reddit and X to voice their disappointment, lamenting the loss of a space to connect with fellow fans, share opinions, and discuss their favorite shows. Many users expressed a preference for content moderation rather than the complete removal of the comment feature, highlighting the value they placed on community interaction within Crunchyroll.
This situation draws parallels to YouTube’s 2019 decision to disable comments on videos aimed at kids. YouTube’s action was prompted by concerns about predatory behavior targeting children through comment sections. Both cases underscore the challenges platforms face in balancing community engagement with the need to create a safe and positive environment, especially when dealing with user-generated content at scale. While Crunchyroll’s decision aims to curb harmful content and improve user experience, it also raises questions about the future of community interaction and fan engagement on the platform.
