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August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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How It Works • Social Media

Amino

Amino was a social networking platform and mobile app built around topic-based communities, especially fandoms and niche interests.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Amino was a social networking platform and mobile app built around topic-based communities, especially fandoms and niche interests. It launched in 2012, was acquired by MediaLab AI in 2021, and ceased operations in December 2025.

What it is

Amino organized users into user-created communities focused on shared interests, such as anime, gaming, music, and television. Members could post blogs, chat, create polls, and build wikis within their chosen communities.

Key details

The app was created by Yin Wang and Ben Anderson, launched in 2012, and originally developed by Narvii, Inc. MediaLab AI Inc. acquired it in January 2021. Amino was especially popular among teens and interest-based groups.

Closure

Amino ceased all operations on December 19, 2025. Reports from late 2025 described the platform as shut down after server failures.

In short

  • Amino was a community-based social media app for fandoms and niche interests.
  • It launched in 2012 and was acquired by MediaLab AI in 2021.
  • The platform shut down on December 19, 2025.
Canadian angle

Amino was used internationally, including by Canadian users interested in fandom and niche online communities, but the available sources do not indicate a specific Canadian origin or Canada-focused operation.

Quick questions

What was Amino?
Amino was a social media app built around user-created communities for shared interests, fandoms, and niche topics.
Who created Amino?
Amino was created by Yin Wang and Ben Anderson.
When did Amino shut down?
The platform ceased operations on December 19, 2025.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amino_(app)
    Supports: Creation, launch, acquisition, and shutdown dates
  2. Wikipedia (Catalan) — https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amino_(xarxa_social)
    Supports: Community-based description and launch details
  3. Amino Support — https://support.aminoapps.com/hc/en-us/articles/360025978293-What-is-Amino
    Supports: Official description of Amino as a network of communities
  4. Amino Support — https://support.aminoapps.com/hc/en-us/articles/115002408914-How-Does-Amino-Work
    Supports: How communities and platform features worked
  5. Wired — https://www.wired.com/story/amino-apps-anonymity/
    Supports: Platform structure and anonymity-related features
  6. Marketing Week — https://www.marketingweek.com/disruptive-brands/amino/
    Supports: Interest-based community model and examples of community topics