Wattpad

Wattpad was developed in 2006, as the result of a collaboration between Allen Lau and Ivan Yuen.{{Cite news|url=http://theliteraryplatform.com/magazine/2012/10/wattpad-building-the-worlds-biggest-reader-and-writer-community/|title=Wattpad: Building the world's biggest reader and writer community - The Literary Platform|newspaper=The Literary Platform|language=en-US|access-date=November 2, 2016|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084353/https://theliteraryplatform.com/news/2012/10/wattpad-building-the-worlds-biggest-reader-and-writer-community/|url-status=live}} The company is based in Toronto, Ontario.{{cite web|title=Discover - Wattpad|url=https://www.wattpad.com/stories|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084405/https://www.wattpad.com/|archive-date=January 7, 2021|access-date=November 22, 2017|website=www.wattpad.com}}

In February 2007, Wattpad announced the addition of over 17,000 e-books from Project Gutenberg, making them available to mobile users.{{Cite web|url=https://company.wattpad.com/press|title=Press|website=Wattpad HQ|access-date=June 2, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084353/https://company.wattpad.com/press|url-status=live}} According to a June 2009 Wattpad press release, the application had been downloaded over 5 million times. In March 2009, an iPhone version was released. This was followed by the launch of BlackBerry App World in April 2009, on Android in June 2009, and on Apple in April 2010. On December 2015, a Windows version was also released. Currently, Wattpad has more than 90 million users{{cite web|url=https://company.wattpad.com/ |website=www.wattpad.com|title= Wattpad |access-date=July 16, 2018|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084405/https://company.wattpad.com/|url-status=live}} who collectively spend 15 billion minutes each month using Wattpad. As of 2018, there are more than 400 million fan fiction uploads.

File: Wattpad logo.svg

As of January 2018, Wattpad had received almost $117.8M in funding from investors.{{Cite web |title=Wattpad Raises $51 Million in Funding from Tencent, BDC and Other Partners |url=https://company.wattpad.com/archives/2018-1-16-wattpad-raises-51-million-in-funding-from-tencent-bdc-and-other-partners |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=wattpad |language=en-US |archive-date=February 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222194544/https://company.wattpad.com/archives/2018-1-16-wattpad-raises-51-million-in-funding-from-tencent-bdc-and-other-partners |url-status=live }} In 2011, Wattpad announced that it received $3.5M in total funding from its current investors, and from W Media Ventures, Golden Venture Partners, and Union Square Ventures.{{cite news|url=http://gigaom.com/2011/09/12/union-square-backs-wattpad-to-make-reading-more-social/|title=Union Square backs Wattpad to make reading more social|last=Ingram|first=Mathew|date=September 12, 2011|access-date=December 6, 2011|archive-date=March 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325014913/https://gigaom.com/2011/09/12/union-square-backs-wattpad-to-make-reading-more-social/|url-status=live}} Then in June 2012, Wattpad raised $17.3M from a group of venture funds led by Khosla Ventures.{{cite web|url=https://gigaom.com/2012/06/06/wattpad-raises-17-million-to-become-the-youtube-of-writing/|title=Wattpad raises $17 million to become the YouTube of writing|first=Mathew|last=Ingram|date=June 6, 2012|access-date=April 10, 2014|archive-date=April 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404054903/https://gigaom.com/2012/06/06/wattpad-raises-17-million-to-become-the-youtube-of-writing/|url-status=live}}

In April 2014, Wattpad announced $46M in a Series C of funding led by OMERS ventures.{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2014/04/08/wattpad-funding/|title=Wattpad Raises $46 Million to Build a Global Literary Community|date=April 8, 2014|work=Mashable|access-date=April 10, 2014|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084350/https://mashable.com/2014/04/08/wattpad-funding/|url-status=live}} In January 2018, Wattpad announced $51M in funding from Tencent Holdings Limited, BDC, Globe Telecom's Kickstart Ventures, Peterson Group, Canso, and existing investor Raine.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-17/tencent-leads-51-million-investment-in-canadian-startup-wattpad|title=Tencent Leads $51 Million Investment in Canadian Startup Wattpad|date=January 17, 2018|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=February 20, 2018|language=en}}

In December 2011, Wattpad was selected as the hottest digital media company in the country at the Canadian Innovation Exchange.{{Cite web|url=https://www.itbusiness.ca/news/wave-accounting-and-wattpad-win-peoples-choice-awards-at-cix/16717|title=Wave Accounting and Wattpad win people's choice awards at CIX|first=Brian|last=Jackson|work=ITBusiness.ca | Business Advantage Through Technology |date=December 2011 |access-date=June 2, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084412/https://www.itbusiness.ca/news/wave-accounting-and-wattpad-win-peoples-choice-awards-at-cix/16717|url-status=live}} In the same year, co-founder and CEO Ivan Yuen was recognized as a top Canadian entrepreneur at the Impact Infused Awards, sponsored by Deloitte.{{Cite web|url=http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_CA/ca/pressroom/ca-pressreleases-en/58b44ca2284c3310VgnVCM3000001c56f00aRCRD.htm|title=Impact and Deloitte Press Release|access-date=June 2, 2019|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203021314/http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_CA/ca/pressroom/ca-pressreleases-en/58b44ca2284c3310VgnVCM3000001c56f00aRCRD.htm|url-status=live}}

In March 2014, Wattpad partnered with Pop Fiction, an imprint of Summit Media, to market Filipino Wattpad stories.{{cite news|url=http://www.summitmedia.com.ph/news/summit-media-wattpad-partnership/|title=Summit Media and Wattpad ink partnership to publish more works by online writers in the Philippines|date=March 24, 2014|publisher=Summit Media|access-date=September 17, 2014|archive-date=July 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713124342/https://www.summitmedia.com.ph/news/summit-media-wattpad-partnership/|url-status=live}} Other publishers from the Philippines also publish stories from Wattpad.

Since then, some Wattpad stories have also been adapted into teleseryes. Filipino television network TV5, in partnership with Wattpad and Life is Beautiful Publishing Company, launched Wattpad Presents, a series of Wattpad stories turned into TV dramas. Wattpad stories aired on the show are usually those that were published by LIB Publishing.

ABS-CBN also made several adaptations of Wattpad stories such as "My App Boyfie" by Noreen Capili (noringai), starring James Reid and Nadine Lustre, and the coming-of-age series Bagito starring Nash Aguas, Alexa Ilacad, and Ella Cruz.{{Cite web|title=James Reid and Nadine Lustre to star in new TV project|url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/jadine-star-my-app-boyfie-wattpad|access-date=April 4, 2021|website=Rappler|language=en|archive-date=October 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020154937/https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/jadine-star-my-app-boyfie-wattpad|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|last=CoconutsManila|date=September 5, 2014|title=James Reid and Nadine Lustre to star in 'My App Boyfie' series|url=https://coconuts.co/manila/lifestyle/james-reid-and-nadine-lustre-star-my-app-boyfie-series/|access-date=April 4, 2021|website=Coconuts|language=en-US|archive-date=August 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819074420/https://coconuts.co/manila/lifestyle/james-reid-and-nadine-lustre-star-my-app-boyfie-series/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title='Bagito' debuts strongly in national ratings – The Manila Times|url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2014/11/22/lifestyle-entertainment/show-times/bagito-debuts-strongly-national-ratings/143396/|access-date=April 4, 2021|website=www.manilatimes.net|date=November 22, 2014|language=en-US|archive-date=September 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909055849/https://www.manilatimes.net/2014/11/22/lifestyle-entertainment/show-times/bagito-debuts-strongly-national-ratings/143396/|url-status=live}} Pop Fiction's best-selling book, She's Dating the Gangster, written by Bianca Bernardino (SGWannaB) as a Wattpad original, became the first Wattpad story adapted into a full-length motion picture starring Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla. The movie adaptation was produced by ABS-CBN's film production arm, Star Cinema.{{Cite web|last=Villano|first=Alexa|title='She's Dating the Gangster': Evolution to the big screen|url=http://r3.rappler.com/life-and-style/arts-and-culture/62837-shes-dating-the-gangster-wattpad-big-screen|access-date=April 4, 2021|website=Rappler|date=July 12, 2014|language=en|archive-date=September 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910030007/https://r3.rappler.com/life-and-style/arts-and-culture/62837-shes-dating-the-gangster-wattpad-big-screen|url-status=live}} Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil also starred in the film Just The Way You Are, based on the Wattpad story "The Bet" by Ilurvbooks. "Chasing Red" was published by isabelleronin, a Filipino-Canadian writer who got more than 200 million views.{{Cite web|last=Sagan|first=Aleksandra|date=June 21, 2018|title=Wattpad eyes more book-to-movie adaptations after Netflix success|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/wattpad-eyes-more-book-to-movie-adaptations-after-netflix-success-1.3983502|access-date=April 4, 2021|website=CTVNews|language=en|archive-date=September 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909055848/https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/wattpad-eyes-more-book-to-movie-adaptations-after-netflix-success-1.3983502|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Sourcebooks Signs Author of Wattpad's Most-Read Story of 2016|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/book-deals/article/72781-sourcebooks-signs-hot-wattpad-author.html|access-date=April 4, 2021|website=PublishersWeekly.com|language=en|archive-date=April 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415083031/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/book-deals/article/72781-sourcebooks-signs-hot-wattpad-author.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Chasing Red - Isabelle Ronin - Wattpad|url=https://www.wattpad.com/story/18024139-chasing-red|access-date=April 4, 2021|website=www.wattpad.com|archive-date=April 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428154021/https://www.wattpad.com/story/18024139-chasing-red|url-status=live}} In 2021, He's Into Her, a novel written by Maxinejiji (Maxine Lat Calibuso), will premiere on iWant TFC, starring Belle Mariano and Donny Pangilinan.{{Cite web|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/11/07/19/donny-pangilinan-belle-mariano-team-up-for-new-iwant-series-hes-into-her|title=Donny Pangilinan, Belle Mariano team up for new iWant series 'He's Into Her'|author=ABS-CBN News|date=November 7, 2019|website=ABS-CBN News|access-date=October 6, 2020|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084352/https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/11/07/19/donny-pangilinan-belle-mariano-team-up-for-new-iwant-series-hes-into-her|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://starcinema.abs-cbn.com/2019/11/7/photos/in-photos-the-cast-of-upcoming-iwant-series-hes-54598|title=IN PHOTOS: The cast of upcoming iWant series 'He's Into Her' | Star Cinema|first=Patricia|last=Matalog|website=starcinema.abs-cbn.com|access-date=October 6, 2020|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084423/https://starcinema.abs-cbn.com/2019/11/7/photos/in-photos-the-cast-of-upcoming-iwant-series-hes-54598|url-status=live}}

GMA Network has also started making adaptations of Wattpad stories via Luv Is, a series of stories turned into dramas similar to that of TV5 but the stories are longer.

In February 2015, Wattpad launched a second standalone app called "After Dark".{{Cite web|url = http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/2015/02/26/wattpad-after-dark-steamy-romance-app/|title = Wattpad Launches After Dark app for Steamy Romance|access-date = September 23, 2015|archive-date = February 15, 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190215215832/https://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/2015/02/26/wattpad-after-dark-steamy-romance-app/|url-status = dead}} The app focuses specifically on the romance genre and is intended for adult readers.

On February 21, 2017, Wattpad launched a chat stories app called Tap,{{Cite web|url = https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/22/wattpad-debuts-tap-an-app-for-reading-chat-style-short-stories/|title = Wattpad debuts Tap, an app for reading chat-style short stories|date = February 22, 2017|access-date = June 13, 2017|website = TechCrunch|last = Perez|first = Sarah|archive-date = January 7, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084355/https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/22/wattpad-debuts-tap-an-app-for-reading-chat-style-short-stories/|url-status = live}}{{Cite web|url = https://the-digital-reader.com/2017/02/22/wattpad-launches-chat-style-reading-app-tap/|title = Wattpad Launches Chat-Style Reading App Tap|date = February 22, 2017|access-date = June 13, 2017|website = The Digital Reader|last = Hoffelder|first = Nate|archive-date = January 7, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084405/https://the-digital-reader.com/2017/02/22/wattpad-launches-chat-style-reading-app-tap/|url-status = live}} which offers stories in the form of text messages as if reading a private conversation on someone else's phone. The app was an early success, with over 240 million taps in the first few weeks after the launch.{{Cite news|url = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/wattpad-taps-into-a-new-genre/article34335985/|title = Wattpad taps into a new genre|date = March 17, 2017|access-date = June 13, 2017|website = The Globe and Mail|last = Dingman|first = Shane|archive-date = January 7, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084402/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/wattpad-taps-into-a-new-genre/article34335985/|url-status = live}} On July 28, 2017, Tap launched "Tap Originals", a series of original stories produced by writers every week, with some of these series working on an episode-by-episode basis.{{Cite web|url = https://techcrunch.com/2017/07/28/wattpad-takes-chat-fiction-beyond-text-with-launch-of-tap-originals/|title = Wattpad takes 'chat fiction' beyond text with launch of Tap Originals|date = July 28, 2017|access-date = December 1, 2017|website = Tech Crunch|last = Perez|first = Sarah|archive-date = January 7, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084412/https://techcrunch.com/2017/07/28/wattpad-takes-chat-fiction-beyond-text-with-launch-of-tap-originals/|url-status = live}}

On November 13, 2018, Wattpad introduced "Next Beta" to a few select countries for early testing.{{Cite web|title=Wattpad Next|url=https://nextbeta.wattpad.com/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084403/https://www.wattpad.com/paidstories/|archive-date=January 7, 2021|access-date=February 9, 2019|website=Wattpad Next|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Wattpad Announces US Launch for Wattpad Next (Beta) Program, Adding Exclusive Paid Content to the Platform|url=https://company.wattpad.com/blog/2018/11/13/wattpad-announces-us-launch-for-wattpad-next-beta-program-adding-exclusive-paid-content-to-the-platform|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084416/https://company.wattpad.com/blog/2018/11/13/wattpad-announces-us-launch-for-wattpad-next-beta-program-adding-exclusive-paid-content-to-the-platform|archive-date=January 7, 2021|access-date=February 9, 2019|website=Wattpad HQ|language=en-US}} The launch of the Next Beta featured over 50 stories that were to be paid for with Watt Coins, which could be earned by having readers spend coins to unlock participating Next Beta stories. This offered writers the chance to earn money through their work and to provide support for readers. Wattpad planned a fast-follow launch for Next Beta in Spanish-speaking regions and to expand the program. The program was available in Latin America and Spain beginning May 27, 2019, before expanding worldwide on July 11 of the same year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wattpad.com/714856760-news-updates-april-3rd-2019-thank-you-next|title=News & Updates - April 3rd, 2019 - Thank you, Next. Introducing Paid Stories. - Wattpad|website=www.wattpad.com|access-date=December 17, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084407/https://www.wattpad.com/714856760-news-updates-april-3rd-2019-thank-you-next|url-status=live}} On September 17, 2019, the Wattpad Team announced the ending of the Next Beta program after results from the program showed that "Wattpadders are ready for a program that funds writers".{{Cite web|title=Introducing Paid Stories|url=http://support.wattpad.com/hc/en-us/articles/360022692911-Introducing-Paid-Stories|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084425/https://support.wattpad.com/hc/en-us/articles/360022692911-Introducing-Paid-Stories|archive-date=January 7, 2021|access-date=December 17, 2019|website=Help Center|language=en-US}} The program was later rebranded to "Paid Stories".

In June 2020, Wattpad suffered a huge data breach that exposed almost 270 million records. The data was initially sold before being published on a public hacking forum where it was widely circulated. The incident exposed extensive personal information including names and usernames, email and IP addresses, genders, birth dates, and passwords stored as bcrypt hashes.{{Cite web|title=Have I Been Pwned: Pwned websites|url=https://haveibeenpwned.com/PwnedWebsites|access-date=July 20, 2020|website=haveibeenpwned.com|archive-date=October 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003211856/https://haveibeenpwned.com/PwnedWebsites|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Statement Regarding Recent Security Issue|url=http://support.wattpad.com/hc/en-us/articles/360046241911|access-date=August 24, 2020|website=Help Center|language=en-US|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084429/https://support.wattpad.com/hc/en-us/articles/360046241911|url-status=live}}

Later that same year on July 14, researchers at Risk Based Security discovered that a threat actor from an unknown source was responsible for the breach, along with the sourcing of over 278 million password credentials and email addresses, with breakdown analysis suggesting that Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook accounts were mostly affected.{{Cite web|date=July 23, 2020|title=Personal Data and Credentials of 268 Million Users Exposed In Recent Wattpad Hack|url=https://www.riskbasedsecurity.com/2020/07/23/personal-data-and-credentials-of-268-million-users-exposed-in-recent-wattpad-hack/|access-date=August 24, 2020|website=RBS|language=en-US|archive-date=August 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813020611/https://www.riskbasedsecurity.com/2020/07/23/personal-data-and-credentials-of-268-million-users-exposed-in-recent-wattpad-hack/|url-status=live}} The Wattpad Corporation has since investigated and patched the issue.

In January 2021, Wattpad announced that it was to be acquired by Naver Corporation in a $600 million cash-and-stock deal.{{Cite news|title=Wattpad to be sold to South Korean internet giant for $600M US {{!}} CBC News|language=en-US|work=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/wattpad-sold-south-korean-giant-1.5879865|access-date=February 11, 2021|archive-date=January 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130130107/https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/wattpad-sold-south-korean-giant-1.5879865|url-status=live}} In an interview, Lau states "It’s also been very clear from Naver, and we agree, that we should operate as independently as possible."{{Cite web|date=January 21, 2021|title=Interview: Wattpad CEO Allen Lau on the Merger with Naver|url=https://publishingperspectives.com/2021/01/exclusive-wattpad-ceo-allen-lau-on-the-merger-with-koreas-naver-interview/|access-date=February 11, 2021|website=Publishing Perspectives|language=en-US|archive-date=February 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202052058/https://publishingperspectives.com/2021/01/exclusive-wattpad-ceo-allen-lau-on-the-merger-with-koreas-naver-interview/|url-status=live}} Wattpad will remain headquartered in Canada and under its current leadership.

In April 2024, Wattpad announced that it would be removing a private messaging (PM) feature from the platform in response to a report on sexual grooming in PMs.{{cite web |title=Wattpad has a community problem, so it's killing DMs |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/23/24138411/wattpad-removing-direct-messaging-dm-feature-grooming |website=The Verge |access-date=16 June 2024 |date=23 April 2024}}

Wattpad has stated that the feature has "only been relevant to a small percentage of our user base"{{cite web |title=Private / Direct Messages |url=https://support.wattpad.com/hc/en-us/articles/204412040-Private-Direct-Messages |website=Wattpad Help Center |access-date=16 June 2024}} and removing it could foster "transparent dialogue."{{cite web |title=Wattpad Addresses Community Issues by Discontinuing DMs |url=https://www.turkmmo.com/en/wattpad-community-issues-discontinuing-dms-h1000111444.html |website=Turkmmo |access-date=16 June 2024 |date=24 April 2024}} However, proponents of retaining private messaging{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Jane |title=An Open Letter to Wattpad: Why Removing Private Messaging Is a Mistake |url=https://medium.com/@janesmithwrites/an-open-letter-to-wattpad-why-removing-private-messaging-is-a-mistake-bcd00399eb37 |website=Medium |access-date=16 June 2024 |date=22 April 2024}} have stated that private messaging allows for collaboration among other things.

Access to Wattpad from within mainland China is restricted. Censorship in China covers topics such as LGBT+ content, which censors consider to be immoral.{{Cite news |last=Ellis-Petersen |first=Hannah |date=2016-03-04 |title=China bans depictions of gay people on television |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/mar/04/china-bans-gay-people-television-clampdown-xi-jinping-censorship |access-date=2024-10-21 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

In July 2024, a Turkish court, the Ankara 10th Penal Court of Peace, ordered that access to Wattpad be blocked. As of July 18th, users within Turkey have been unable to access the site without the use of a VPN.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-22 |title=International Publishers join calls for Türkiye to unblock Wattpad |url=https://internationalpublishers.org/international-publishers-join-calls-for-turkiye-to-unblock-wattpad/ |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=International Publishers Association |language=en-US}} This makes Turkey the first country to officially restrict access to the site. {{Cite web |title=Turkey becomes first country to ban Wattpad |url=https://bianet.org/haber/turkey-becomes-first-country-to-ban-wattpad-297607 |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=bianet.org |language=en}}

=== Statistics ===

As of September 2020:

• More than 80% of its traffic and usage comes from mobile devices{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/wattpad-funding-tencent-tv-film-entertainment-1202666935/|title=Wattpad Banks $51 Million From Tencent, Other Investors to Fund Entertainment Projects|author=Mathew Ingram|date=January 17, 2018|access-date=March 22, 2018|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084425/https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/wattpad-funding-tencent-tv-film-entertainment-1202666935/|url-status=live}}
• The site has 90 million monthly users{{Cite web|url=https://company.wattpad.com/|title=Wattpad tracks 80 million monthly users, 23 percent increase since 2018|date=August 15, 2019|website=BetaKit|language=en-CA|access-date=January 5, 2020|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084408/https://company.wattpad.com/|url-status=live}}
• There were over 665 million story uploads in total{{verification failed|reason=URL is excluded from Wayback Machine, live page does not say how many story uploads there are, and my story uploaded in 2023 received an ID number of around 350 million so I don't see how it could have been 665 million in 2020|date=November 2023}}
• 70% of users are female, 80% of whom are millennials or Gen Z{{cite news |last1=Rao |first1=Sonia |title=How 'The Kissing Booth' went from a teenager's passion project to a Netflix sensation |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/how-the-kissing-booth-went-from-a-teenagers-passion-project-to-a-netflix-sensation/2018/07/13/712c0072-84fe-11e8-9e80-403a221946a7_story.html?noredirect=on |newspaper=Washington Post |publisher=WP Company LLC |access-date=February 12, 2019 |archive-date=January 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084420/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/how-the-kissing-booth-went-from-a-teenagers-passion-project-to-a-netflix-sensation/2018/07/13/712c0072-84fe-11e8-9e80-403a221946a7_story.html?noredirect=on |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Wattpad's 2020 Year in Review: Catharsis Through Creativity, Creating Community, and Changing the World with Stories |url=https://company.wattpad.com/archives/2020-12-1-wattpads-2020-year-in-review-catharsis-through-creativity-creating-community-and-changing-the-world-with-stories |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=Wattpad |language=en-US}}

In 2018, nearly 300,000 writers from 35 countries take part in its yearly writing competition, The Watty Awards.{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Porter |date=2019-06-04 |title=The International Watty Awards at 10 Include a Wattpad Books Contract |url=https://publishingperspectives.com/2019/06/canada-watty-awards-tenth-anniversary-open-for-submissions-2019/ |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=Publishing Perspectives |language=en-US}}

Famous authors such as Margaret Atwood and R. L. Stine have also joined Wattpad. Atwood has posted poetry and judged a poetry contest on the platform.{{cite news |last=Atwood |first=Margaret |title=Margaret Atwood: why Wattpad works |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/jul/06/margaret-atwood-wattpad-online-writing |website=The Guardian|date=July 6, 2012 }} Stine has used Wattpad to post chapters of his books and has done interactive events with readers.{{cite web |title=R.L. Stine Finds New Era of Readers On The Web |url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/73986-rl-stines-fear-street-wattpad-project-shows-everyones-favorite-childrens-book-writer-is-ready-to-face |website=Bustle|date=April 7, 2015 }}

Wattpad has increased in popularity among many fandoms, who take to the platform to craft their own fan fiction.{{Cite web|date=August 24, 2020|title=The path to publication from fan fiction and Wattpad|url=https://lariatnews.com/orangeappeal/the-path-to-publication-from-fan-fiction-and-wattpad/|access-date=September 1, 2020|website=Lariat|language=en-US|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084409/https://lariatnews.com/orangeappeal/the-path-to-publication-from-fan-fiction-and-wattpad/|url-status=live}} One of the most notable stories on the platform is the After series by Anna Todd, which was originally published as Harry Styles fan fiction.{{Cite web|last=Pham|first=Jason|date=April 12, 2019|title=How Anna Todd's Harry Styles Fanfiction Became a Bestselling Book—& Now a Movie|url=https://stylecaster.com/after-anna-todd-harry-styles-fanfiction/|access-date=September 1, 2020|website=StyleCaster|language=en|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084431/https://stylecaster.com/after-anna-todd-harry-styles-fanfiction/|url-status=live}} After its large popularity amongst the One Direction fandom and the app's readers, the story became the most-read book on Wattpad,{{Cite web|title=About Wattpad|url=https://company.wattpad.com/|access-date=September 1, 2020|website=Wattpad HQ|language=en-US|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084415/https://company.wattpad.com/|url-status=live}} having achieved just under 10 million unique readers on the platform and has been read more than one billion times.{{Cite web|last=Gannes|first=Liz|date=October 22, 2014|title=Q&A With Anna Todd, the Breakout Fanfic Star Who Writes Everything on Her Phone|url=https://www.vox.com/2014/10/22/11632112/qa-with-anna-todd-the-breakout-fanfic-star-who-writes-everything-on|access-date=September 1, 2020|website=Vox|language=en|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084419/https://www.vox.com/2014/10/22/11632112/qa-with-anna-todd-the-breakout-fanfic-star-who-writes-everything-on|url-status=live}} The series went on to be published by Gallery Books and became a New York Times Best Seller.

By crafting a spot for fanfiction alongside its other genres, Wattpad prioritizes its teen readers and gives the platform a twist.{{Cite web|date=July 25, 2012|title=Wattpad's unlikely literary revolution|url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/wattpad-unlikely-literary-revolution/|access-date=September 1, 2020|website=The Daily Dot|language=en-US|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084415/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/wattpad-unlikely-literary-revolution/|url-status=live}} Deputy General Manager, Ashleigh Gardner, added the following about the genre: "What’s unique about Wattpad is that fanfic is treated like any other genre, living alongside other forms of fiction. This makes it more fluid for readers of original fiction to discover a new fanfic, or inspire a fanfiction writer to start a new story and bring their audience along with them."{{Cite web|date=October 25, 2017|title=YA Reading and Writing Trends from Wattpad's 60 Million Users|url=https://publishingperspectives.com/2017/10/watpad-ya-trends-publishing-insights-millennials/|access-date=September 1, 2020|website=Publishing Perspectives|language=en-US|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084418/https://publishingperspectives.com/2017/10/watpad-ya-trends-publishing-insights-millennials/|url-status=live}}

Fan fiction is the third-largest category on Wattpad, closely behind Romance and Teen Fiction, many of which are also fan fiction.

Wattpad hosts a number of writing contests each year, including the annual Watty Awards, the largest writing competition in the world.{{cite web|url=https://www.wattpad.com/go/writing-contests/|title=Writing Contests on Wattpad|website=Wattpad|access-date=September 23, 2015|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084412/https://www.wattpad.com/go/writing-contests/|url-status=live}} In 2011, The Watty Awards introduced three entry levels (Popular, On The Rise, and Undiscovered) to allow greater chances of winning for every type of writer. Contests are open to anyone who has a Wattpad account.

During the summer of 2012, Wattpad in collaboration with Margaret Atwood, Canadian poet/novelist/literary critic, held the "Wattys": the first major poetry contest offering a chance to poets on Wattpad to compete against each other in one of two categories, either as an "Enthusiast" or a "Competitor". It has been going on ever since, and now the contest is open to books of all genres.

Wattpad has formed ties with publishing houses to try to help Wattpad authors receive compensation for their works. A new branch, Wattpad Studios, was developed to connect popular writers to both the publishing and film industries.{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/04/26/wattpad-studios/|title=Wattpad sets its sights on brands, publishers and Hollywood with Wattpad Studios|last=Ha|first=Anthony|website=TechCrunch|date=April 26, 2016 |access-date=October 27, 2016|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084413/https://techcrunch.com/2016/04/26/wattpad-studios/|url-status=live}} Wattpad has, in the past, teamed up with publishing groups such as Sourcebooks to help Wattpad authors receive book deals and get their work into hard copies.{{Cite news|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/58997-sourcebooks-wattpad-team-up-to-launch-ya-authors.html|title=Sourcebooks, Wattpad Team Up To Launch YA Authors|newspaper=PublishersWeekly.com|access-date=October 27, 2016|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084421/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/58997-sourcebooks-wattpad-team-up-to-launch-ya-authors.html|url-status=live}} More traditional publishing houses such as Random House and HarperCollins have approached popular Wattpad writers to negotiate publishing deals, allowing the website to serve as a springboard into the more traditional publishing industry.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/what-wattpad-youtube-stories-transforming-book-publishing-1710151|title=What Is Wattpad? The 'YouTube For Stories' Is Transforming Book Publishing|date=October 23, 2014|newspaper=International Business Times|access-date=October 27, 2016|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084438/https://www.ibtimes.com/what-wattpad-youtube-stories-transforming-book-publishing-1710151|url-status=live}}

Author Anna Todd, whose work After has received over a billion reads on the site, was given a publishing deal with Simon & Schuster to turn her online work into a multiple-book published saga. A film version starring Josephine Langford, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Selma Blair, Jennifer Beals, Peter Gallagher, and Shane Paul McGhie was released by Aviron Pictured on April 12, 2019.

On January 24, 2019, Wattpad launched the publishing division Wattpad Books led by Wattpad Studios' Publishing Deputy Manager Ashleigh Gardner, with operations managed by Wattpad Studios' Publishing Director Deanna McFadden.{{Cite web|url=https://company.wattpad.com/blog/2019/1/23/wattpad-launches-wattpad-books-a-new-publishing-division-to-bring-diverse-data-backed-stories-to-book-lovers-everywhere|title=Wattpad Launches Wattpad Books, a New Publishing Division to Bring Diverse, Data-Backed Stories to Book-Lovers Everywhere|website=Wattpad HQ|language=en-US|access-date=February 24, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084420/https://company.wattpad.com/blog/2019/1/23/wattpad-launches-wattpad-books-a-new-publishing-division-to-bring-diverse-data-backed-stories-to-book-lovers-everywhere|url-status=live}} According to CEO Allen Lau, this project was in an effort to take the "guesswork" out of publishing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.utoronto.ca/news/wattpad-founded-u-t-alumni-launches-publishing-division-new-york-times|title=Wattpad, founded by U of T alumni, launches publishing division: New York Times|website=University of Toronto News|language=en|access-date=March 24, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084426/https://www.utoronto.ca/news/wattpad-founded-u-t-alumni-launches-publishing-division-new-york-times|url-status=live}}

The Wattpad Books acquisitions team uses a mix of machine learning algorithms and human editors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/24/18195753/wattpad-books-launching-publishing-imprint-self|title=Wattpad is launching a publishing imprint called Wattpad Books|last=Liptak|first=Andrew|date=January 24, 2019|website=The Verge|access-date=February 24, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084418/https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/24/18195753/wattpad-books-launching-publishing-imprint-self|url-status=live}} The acquisitions team looks to Wattpad's large and existing digital library (over half a billion titles) in order to select notable material for publication.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lilyrugo/2019/01/30/wattpads-new-book-publishing-branch-uses-machine-deep-learning-to-find-stories/|title=Wattpad's New Book Publishing Branch Uses Machine Deep Learning To Find Stories|last=Rugo|first=Lily|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=March 24, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084413/https://www.forbes.com/sites/lilyrugo/2019/01/30/wattpads-new-book-publishing-branch-uses-machine-deep-learning-to-find-stories/|url-status=live}} According to Wattpad Books leader Ashleigh Gardner, this is in an effort to combat bias inherent in human editors. Gardner says that this technology analyses the data behind each title, looking at story structure and word use in addition to levels of reader engagement per title.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/futurebook/algorithms-trends-and-partnerships-inside-story-wattpad-books-942486|title=Algorithms, trends and partnerships: the inside story of Wattpad books|last=Flatt|first=Molly|date=February 4, 2019|website=The Bookseller|access-date=May 14, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084427/https://www.thebookseller.com/futurebook/algorithms-trends-and-partnerships-inside-story-wattpad-books-942486|url-status=live}} This data is then compared to analyses of other books on Wattpad and in the public domain. Once all the data has been collected and engagement has been looked at, human staffers read the titles and create their lists.

All published titles are a combination of international hits and notable but known material from their digital library. These titles are distributed by Macmillan, Raincoast Books, and Penguin Random House in India and the United Kingdom, with their Fall 2019 list available in leading North American retailers.{{Cite web|url=https://company.wattpad.com/blog/2019/7/8/penguin-random-house-india-partners-with-wattpad-to-showcase-exclusive-content-and-innovative-promotions|title=Penguin Random House India Partners with Wattpad to Showcase Exclusive Content and Innovative Promotions|website=Wattpad HQ|language=en-US|access-date=September 14, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084438/https://company.wattpad.com/blog/2019/7/8/penguin-random-house-india-partners-with-wattpad-to-showcase-exclusive-content-and-innovative-promotions|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://company.wattpad.com/blog/2019/8/8/penguin-random-house-uk-collaborates-with-wattpad-books-to-bring-global-wattpad-hits-to-readers-in-the-uk|title=Penguin Random House UK collaborates with Wattpad Books to bring global Wattpad hits to readers in the UK|website=Wattpad HQ|language=en-US|access-date=September 14, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084422/https://company.wattpad.com/blog/2019/8/8/penguin-random-house-uk-collaborates-with-wattpad-books-to-bring-global-wattpad-hits-to-readers-in-the-uk|url-status=live}} Outside North America, Gardner has sold the rights to Hachette (France) for Deanna Cameron's What Happened Last Night.{{Cite web|url=https://publishingperspectives.com/2019/01/wattpad-books-new-publishing-division-opened-canada/|title=Wattpad Launches a Book Publishing Division Called Wattpad Books|date=January 24, 2019|website=Publishing Perspectives|language=en-US|access-date=February 24, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084421/https://publishingperspectives.com/2019/01/wattpad-books-new-publishing-division-opened-canada/|url-status=live}} Additionally, Lauren Palphreyman's rights to Cupid's Match have been sold in French (Hachette) and German (S. Fischer Verlag).{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/24/online-storytelling-community-wattpad-launches-its-own-publishing-arm-wattpad-books/|title=Online storytelling community Wattpad launches its own publishing arm, Wattpad Books|website=TechCrunch|date=January 24, 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=February 24, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084429/https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/24/online-storytelling-community-wattpad-launches-its-own-publishing-arm-wattpad-books/|url-status=live}}

Wattpad's first list consisted of six young adult novels. The QB Bad Boy & Me by Tay Marley (28.8 million reads) will be their lead title and was slated for release on August 13, 2019. The remaining five books will be released{{Update inline |date=June 2024}} between September and October 2019 and include: Trapeze by Leigh Ansell (2.5 million reads), What Happened That Night by Deanna Cameron (over 1 million reads), Saving Everest by Sky Reads (17.2 million reads), Cupid's Match by Lauren Palphreyman (46.4 million reads), and I'm a Gay Wizard by V.S. Santoni (404,000 reads). Wattpad hopes to publish 18 titles in their 2020 list.

Besides Wattpad Books, Wattpad announced a partnership with Anvil Publishing, Inc., one of the Philippines' leading publishers, to create Bliss Books, a YA imprint with Filipino young adults and romance fanatics as their target market.{{Cite web|url=https://company.wattpad.com/blog/2019/4/15/anvil-publishing-and-wattpad-team-up-for-bliss-books-a-new-ya-imprint-for-the-philippines|title=Anvil Publishing and Wattpad Team Up for Bliss Books, a New YA Imprint for the Philippines|website=Wattpad HQ|language=en-US|access-date=September 14, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084428/https://company.wattpad.com/blog/2019/4/15/anvil-publishing-and-wattpad-team-up-for-bliss-books-a-new-ya-imprint-for-the-philippines|url-status=live}}

Netflix film The Kissing Booth was written in 2011 by author Beth Reekles. It originated as a story on Wattpad where it won a Watty Award for "Most Popular Teen Fiction" in Wattpad's annual writing contest.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/04/beth-reekles-kissing-booth/316454/|title=Meet the 17-Year-Old Who's Already Got a Three-Book Deal with Random House|first=Jen|last=Doll|date=April 9, 2013|website=The Atlantic|access-date=June 2, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084431/https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2013/04/beth-reekles-kissing-booth/316454/|url-status=live}} By 2012 it had amassed over 19 million reads on Wattpad and, in 2013, was published by Penguin Random House.{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/14/netflixs-latest-hit-the-kissing-booth-is-a-wattpad-success-story/|title=Netflix's latest hit 'The Kissing Booth' is a Wattpad success story|date=June 14, 2018 |access-date=June 2, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084433/https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/14/netflixs-latest-hit-the-kissing-booth-is-a-wattpad-success-story/|url-status=live}} In an interview with Forbes, Reekles explains what drew her to Wattpad: "I loved the feeling of community on the site, and when I began to share, I liked the anonymity of it because I was so self-conscious about my writing and hadn't shared it with anyone before."{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamrowe1/2018/06/26/why-beth-reekles-is-the-wattpad-success-story-behind-netflix-hit-the-kissing-booth/|title=Why Beth Reekles Is The Wattpad Success Story Behind Netflix Hit 'The Kissing Booth'|first=Adam|last=Rowe|website=Forbes|access-date=June 2, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084420/https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamrowe1/2018/06/26/why-beth-reekles-is-the-wattpad-success-story-behind-netflix-hit-the-kissing-booth/|url-status=live}}

Since The Kissing Booth premiered on Netflix on May 11, 2018, Ted Sarandos called it "one of the most-watched movies in the country, and maybe in the world". The Kissing Booth was the fourth most popular movie in IMDb's popularity rankings in June 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-says-the-kissing-booth-is-one-of-the-most-watched-movies-in-the-country-2018-6|title=Netflix says its teen romcom 'The Kissing Booth' is 'one of the most-watched movies in the country'|first=Travis|last=Clark|website=Business Insider|access-date=June 2, 2019|date=June 12, 2018|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084415/https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-says-the-kissing-booth-is-one-of-the-most-watched-movies-in-the-country-2018-6|url-status=live}} Wattpad has also signed deals with Asian distribution partners, such as pan-Asian streaming platform Iflix to co-produce dozens of original movies based on Wattpad stories out of Indonesia,{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/wattpad-strikes-original-content-partnership-with-asian-digital-platform-iflix-1202445743/|title=Wattpad Strikes Original Content Partnership With Asian Digital Platform Iflix|date=August 15, 2018|website=Deadline|access-date=August 22, 2018|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084416/https://deadline.com/2018/08/wattpad-strikes-original-content-partnership-with-asian-digital-platform-iflix-1202445743/|url-status=live}} and Singapore's Mediacorp, to bring Wattpad stories to Mediacorp's FTA channels such as Channel 5 (with exception of CNA) and its streaming service Toggle.{{Cite web|url=https://company.wattpad.com/blog/2019/4/23/wattpad-and-mediacorp-partner-to-bring-singapore-stories-from-written-word-to-national-screens|title=Wattpad and Mediacorp partner to bring Singapore stories from written word to national screens|website=Wattpad HQ|language=en-US|access-date=September 14, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084423/https://company.wattpad.com/blog/2019/4/23/wattpad-and-mediacorp-partner-to-bring-singapore-stories-from-written-word-to-national-screens|url-status=live}}

On December 8, 2021, it was announced that ViacomCBS would be partnering with Wattpad to produce some of its original stories.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/8/22825153/wattpad-webtoon-originals-paramount-plus-viacomcbs|title=ViacomCBS announces partnership with Wattpad to adapt originals|first=Catie|last=Keck|website=The Verge|access-date=December 8, 2021|date=December 8, 2021|archive-date=December 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209002217/https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/8/22825153/wattpad-webtoon-originals-paramount-plus-viacomcbs|url-status=live}}

Wattpad, with AwesomenessTV, produces Hulu's popular Light as a Feather.

According to a study, online writing communities like Wattpad help young writers learn and grow their craft from constructive feedback and criticism.{{Cite journal|last=Birch|first=Heather|date=2016|title=Feedback in Online Writing Forums: Effects on Adolescent Writers|url=https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/wte/vol5/iss1/5/|journal=Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education|volume=5|pages=Article 5|access-date=September 30, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084423/https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/wte/vol5/iss1/5/|url-status=live}} Composed of students and their experiences on online writing platforms, the study aims to show how constructive criticism affects their writing process. Most participants prefer serious feedback over subtle critiquing, based on the results.

Wattpad, as well as similar online writing communities, help young authors build and construct their self-perception as writers, as well as establish an audience and interact with readers.{{Cite journal|last=Ramdarshan Bold|first=Melanie|date=2016|title=The Return of the Social Author: Negotiating Authority and Influence on Wattpad|journal=Convergence|doi=10.1177/1354856516654459|s2cid=220053190 }} It acts as a gateway into the publishing realm and offers hands-on experience with digital writing. This type of experience helps writers develop personal authorship.

Wattpad offers unique features, such as interactive margin commenting. Registered readers can add comments and feedback by individual lines and paragraphs as they are reading rather than after the chapter or story is finished.{{Cite journal|last=Rebora|first=Simone|date=2018|title=A New Research Programme for Reading Research: Analysing Comments in the Margins on Wattpad|url=https://digitcult.lim.di.unimi.it/index.php/dc/article/view/67|journal=DigitCult - Scientific Journal on Digital Cultures|volume=3|pages=19–36|access-date=October 3, 2019|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084440/https://digitcult.lim.di.unimi.it/index.php/dc/article/view/67|url-status=live}} These comment sections are available to be viewed by all readers (guests and non-guests alike, so far as of 2021). Registered users can also use them for reacting to the chapter, offering feedback, or just for personal input, allowing readers to see what others are thinking and writers to see how readers are responding. If a guest attempts to view replies to a comment or wishes to give feedback themselves, they will be prompted to create an account or log in to do so.

Early in its history, some large volumes of user-uploaded material hosted on Wattpad were copyrighted material created by authors who did not grant republication rights. In May 2009, an article in The New York Times noted, "Sites like Scribd and Wattpad, which invite users to upload documents like college theses and self-published novels, have been the target of industry grumbling in recent weeks, as illegal reproductions of popular titles have turned up on them".{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/technology/internet/12digital.html|title=With E-Readers Comes Wider Piracy of Books|last=Rich|first=Motoko|author-link=Motoko Rich|date=May 11, 2009|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 26, 2017|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107084450/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/technology/internet/12digital.html|url-status=live}}

The Wattpad website notes, "We do not welcome upload of material that violates its copyright terms," but also states "It is simply not possible to screen and verify all posted content."{{citation|url=http://www.wattpad.com/writerprogram|title=Wattpad – Writer Program|access-date=August 12, 2011|archive-date=November 20, 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20091120121515/http://www.wattpad.com/writerprogram|url-status=live}}. In response to industry criticism, in April 2009 (before the publication of the New York Times article that named Wattpad as a vehicle for user-generated e-book infringement) Wattpad announced an "Authors In Charge" program, designed to allow authors or their representatives to identify and directly remove infringing content from the site, but this program is designed specifically for "authors with published books for sale." Authors may begin their stories on Wattpad and then choose to publish their work. In most cases, the work on Wattpad is only a sample to ensure funds go to them in regard to their writing.

Bookmate and the long-established and popular sites FanFiction.Net and Fiction Press (a spin-off site for original fiction) also serve as hubs for online prose. An alternative site that is free and open source is Archive of Our Own or AO3.{{Cite news|url=https://gizmodo.com/how-to-find-the-best-fanfiction-on-the-internet-1723984681|title=How To Find The Best Fanfiction On the Internet|last=Hale-Stern|first=Kaila|work=Gizmodo|access-date=December 6, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=December 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206144309/https://gizmodo.com/how-to-find-the-best-fanfiction-on-the-internet-1723984681|url-status=live}}

{{interlanguage link|Monogatary.com|force=yes|ja}} is named after a stylized romanization of {{nihongo3|'story'|物語|monogatari}}. It is also a novel-centered social networking service about creative writing and illustrations founded in October 2017.

RoyalRoad hosts primarily LitRPG and isekai/portal fantasy novels, but also a wide range of other fiction.{{Cite news|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/deep-dives/2024/6/5/investigating-world-of-english-webfiction|title=Let's Become a Novelist! Investigating the World of English Webfiction|last=Wescott|first=Adam|access-date=2025-04-05|language=en-us}}

Scribble Hub primarily hosts LitRPG, isekai, and xianxia, with a significant minority of transgender and other queer fiction.

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