SmugMug acquired Flickr

[northrop]

Announced just a few hours ago.

I know that a few of you here use Flickr to host your images. Smugmug, as some of you know, is a paid service.

https://www.smugmug.com/together/

https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/20/17264226/flickr-acquired-by-smugmug

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2018/04/20/smugmug-buys-flickr-verizon-oath/537377002/

edit:

Nothing will change immediately with regard to your Flickr account. You will still access Flickr with your current login credentials and you will have the same Flickr experience as you do now. We will continue to work to make your Flickr experience even better.

We think you are going to love Flickr under SmugMug ownership, but you can choose to not have your Flickr account and data transferred to SmugMug until May 25, 2018. If you want to keep your Flickr account and data from being transferred, you must go to your Flickr account to download the photos and videos you want to keep, then delete your account from your Account Settings by May 25, 2018.

If you do not delete your account by May 25, 2018, your Flickr account and data will transfer to SmugMug and will be governed by SmugMug’s Terms and Privacy Policy.

Looks like all you Flickr people have a month to unload/transfer your images, or pay up.

 

[UnknownSouljer]

That is a shame. I suppose the alternatives will win then? Like 500px (or I guess Google Plus... haha ....riiiight). The big reason to use Flickr though was the community. I suspect there will be a pretty big displacement.
Honestly, if it's a numbers game, then it closing down is probably fine for most. Instagram has more viewership, and there are other hosting alternatives if you just need to host, in which case Google actually is an alternative (for hosting, not for community).