The average "users online" back then was around 70,000 sometimes spiking up to over 100,000 at times. As I am writing this I can see the number of users online is 2,324 and it's rare to see it much over 3,000. That's reason number one.

 
Reason number two most likely is the COVID scare. Providers who aren't seeing clients aren't looking for the exposure, especially in the epicenter of the epicenter, NYC. I have said on many occasions that I'm not afraid of some pussy virus like Corona, but if I were in NYC even I might be reconsidering my stance on the subject.

 
I am kind of surprised that the user count hasn't gone up in light of the fact that most of the country is basically on lockdown, I would think more people with "nothing to do" would have found their way back to TER, but apparently that is also not the case.

END OF MESSAGE

Past volumes vs current volume after a long time away is simply no comparison.  Now, add to the mix the current pandemic,  I would say a lot of people are just a bit distracted with higher priority issues.  Although more people are at home,  probably less true private time with kids and spouses right there together.   In addition,  keep in mind, during TER's absence,  providers and hobbyist have found other means to advertise and/or entertain themselves.  I would say it will be awhile (if ever) before we see the lofty ,memeber numbers that we once enjoyed in previous years past.

And to add to his thoughts, TER never recovered from Sesta/Fosta.

 
But even prior to that there was a then small, but rapidly growing contingent of woke, vehemently anti-TER providers that grouped together and moved to other platforms, most notably Twitter, and won't be coming back.

 
One part #metoo, one part Sesta/Fosta, one part Twitter, one part COVID-19 and there you have it.

GaG and Murphy are spot on!

And then the other ladies are too intimidated to post their own photos.