The term "refugee" is used deliberately by this group. They do not see themselves as tourists or casual lurkers. They were natives of a specific digital land. In the weeks following the shutdown, the term coalesced on alternative platforms like Lemmy, Kbin, and Telegram.
: A major competitor that hosts a vast library of adult content and has seen increased traffic as a direct alternative for 8muses users. 8muses forum refugees
When long-standing online communities like the 8muses forum face instability, shutdowns, or significant policy shifts, users (often called "refugees") tend to migrate to a handful of alternative hubs. The term "refugee" is used deliberately by this group
The most direct spiritual successor to 8muses is . Many former moderators of 8muses migrated here. APC uses a similar forum software (phpBB) and has replicated the "Comic Discussion" structure almost exactly. In the weeks following the shutdown, the term
The search for a "New Muses" led the community across several different platforms, each offering a different piece of what was lost: