Tumblr to WordPress Migration Paused by Automattic

Tumblr's WordPress Migration Put on Hold

Matt Mullenweg, CEO of Automattic, has revealed that the planned migration of the Tumblr blogging platform to WordPress has been suspended. This announcement reverses previous statements regarding the project’s implementation.

The news was shared during an appearance on The Verge’s Decoder podcast, released on Monday. Mullenweg stated the project is currently “on hold” with no firm timeline for resumption.

Focus Shift to User-Facing Improvements

According to Mullenweg, the decision stems from a desire to prioritize features directly impacting users and responding to their requests. The migration was described as a substantial infrastructural undertaking.

He emphasized that while the re-architecture remains desirable for its inherent cleanliness, current development efforts are concentrated elsewhere. “Right now, we’re not working on it,” he clarified.

Implications for Fediverse Integration

This change in direction also casts uncertainty on Tumblr’s potential integration with the fediverse, the open social web. A move to WordPress would have facilitated this integration by making Tumblr a federated application.

Mullenweg acknowledged the fediverse as a motivating factor for the initial migration plan, but indicated it is no longer a primary concern.

He suggested that any future implementation of fediverse compatibility would likely occur directly within the existing Tumblr codebase. “…in the meantime, I think if there was a big push to implement fediverse, we would just do it on the Tumblr code base,” he explained.

Tumblr's Financial Status and Future

Mullenweg also confirmed that Tumblr currently operates at a loss. The platform is financially supported by the profitability of other products within the Automattic portfolio.

Despite this, he expressed continued confidence in Tumblr’s long-term potential. Automattic intends to provide the platform with the necessary resources and time to achieve profitability and define its future trajectory.