Crunchyroll removes the comment option from their platform

On July 8, 2024, Crunchyroll, the largest anime streaming platform, eliminated the ability to leave comments on both its streaming platform and website where articles were published.

The streaming platform, owned by Sony Group Corporation, is a popular American subscription service that was established in 2006. It is widely recognized as one of the few legal options for accessing the medium of ‘anime’ without resorting to piracy. As of 2024, the platform has amassed nearly 13 million paid subscribers who are eager to watch anime through legitimate means.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of others.

Crunchyroll removes the option to comment

The streaming platform has eliminated the ability for fans to express their thoughts by disabling the comment feature. This change affects not only the episodes but also the platform’s articles. Additionally, all previous comments have been deleted from the platform.

The reason for this change was stated by the streaming platform on their support center.

“At Crunchyroll, we prioritize creating a safe and respectful community environment. To maintain this standard, we are removing all existing user-generated content, including comments and reviews, across all our platforms and experiences. The user ratings system will, however, remain, allowing you to express your opinions through star ratings.”

The streaming platform’s statement above implies that hateful comments from certain fans caused problems that ultimately resulted in the platform removing the comment option.

Crunchyroll-hime, the mascot of this streaming website, became a reality in 2013 (Image via Crunchyroll)

The streaming platform began in 2006, initially featuring East Asian shows with fan-made subtitles. However, it soon faced backlash from both the general public and other streaming services.

In January 2009, the platform signed a deal with TV Tokyo for the popular Shounen anime series Naruto Shippuden. This marked the beginning of the platform’s growth as an officially approved anime streaming site. Additionally, the platform made efforts to legally offer manga to a wider audience through Crunchyroll Manga.

Despite the continued success of the anime streaming platform, the manga website did not experience significant growth and was eventually shut down by its owners in November 2023. On its platform, Crunchyroll manga featured popular titles including Attack on Titan, Fairy Tail, and Seven Deadly Sins.

In January 2016, the anime streaming platform announced its collaboration with the major American anime streaming service Funimation. After nearly six years, the two streaming services combined to create the ultimate platform for legally streaming anime.

In February 2024, the streaming platform announced that it would be testing the use of Artificial Intelligence for subtitles. Two months later, in April 2024, it also announced that it would now allow multiple users on a single account, making it more accessible and affordable for the community of anime enthusiasts.

Concluding Thoughts

In light of recent events, YouTube, the world’s largest video-sharing platform, made the decision to remove the dislike button in November 2021 in order to promote the mental well-being of its users. Similarly, this anime streaming platform may also consider removing individual opinions in order to prevent some users from sharing potentially harmful opinions without restraint.

While some may view rude opinions as constructive criticism, it is important to acknowledge that they may not be suitable for everyone. To address this issue, it is crucial to address it at its source by preventing individuals from freely sharing their opinions.

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