The narrative suggests that the rapid decline in Stack Overflow’s traffic is solely due to the rise of AI coding assistants like ChatGPT and Copilot. However, a recent analysis argues that toxic community culture played a massive role in driving users away before AI even entered the chat.
For years, the platform was criticized for aggressive moderation, where new users were often met with snarky comments and strict rule enforcement rather than helpful guidance. This gatekeeping created a hostile environment that discouraged participation from beginners and experts alike. While AI offers instant, judgment-free answers, the reality is that many developers were already looking for an exit.
The rise of Large Language Models was simply the final nail in the coffin. By the time AI tools became mainstream, the patience for digging through archived threads only to be reprimanded for a duplicate question had evaporated. Essentially, developers didn’t just switch to AI because it was faster—they switched because it was kinder.
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