Thousands of people complained that the site had gone down, just as performers including Maroon 5 and Travis Scott left the stage. The outage continued as the game began, preventing people from discussing the game as it went on.

The site was hit by major outages for more than an hour, beginning just as the halftime show happened, according to the site Down Detector. Most of the issues were reported in the US, though that is probably because the Super Bowl happened during the night in the rest of the world.

Reddit confirmed the issue on a Twitter page devoted to updates on its status. Shortly after, it said it had identified a fix and then confirmed it had been resolved, around two hours after the problems first began.

Many users complained that the outage had stopped them from discussing – and complaining about – the controversial halftime show. Maroon 5's performance was widely criticised by fans, who said the event had been "boring" and that it had failed to deal with ongoing discussions about the NFL's treatment of Colin Kaepernick.

Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show Show all 50 1 /50 Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show Lead vocalist of Maroon 5 Adam Levine performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl LIII AFP/Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show Lead vocalist of Maroon 5 Adam Levine (R) performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl LIII between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on February 3, 2019. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP)ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images ANGELA WEISS AFP/Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine and Maroon 5 perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) Jamie Squire Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) Rob Carr Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show Maroon 5 performs with Big Boi, Sleepy Brown and Travis Scott Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show NFL Football - Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show - New England Patriots v Los Angeles Rams - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. - February 3, 2019. Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during the halftime show. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque KEVIN LAMARQUE Reuters Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Big Boi, and Sleepy Brown Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) Streeter Lecka Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show Feb 3, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine performs during halftime of Super Bowl LIII between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports Jason Getz USA TODAY Sports Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: A general view of Maroon 5 onstage during Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) Scott Cunningham Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine and Maroon 5 perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) Jamie Squire Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) Rob Carr Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) Scott Cunningham Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show Rapper Travis Scott and Maroon 5's Adam Levine perform EPA Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Big Boi, and Sleepy Brown perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) Rob Carr Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show NFL Football - Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show - New England Patriots v Los Angeles Rams - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. - February 3, 2019. Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during the halftime show. REUTERS/Mike Segar MIKE SEGAR Reuters Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show Feb 3, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine performs during the halftime show in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports Christopher Hanewinckel USA TODAY Sports Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show Adam Levine performs as Travis Scott is carried by the crowd AP Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show epa07341548 Big Boi and Maroon 5 perform during the halftime show of Super Bowl LIII between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 03 February 2019. EPA/MIKE ZARRILLI MIKE ZARRILLI EPA Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Al Bello Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Big Boi, and Sleepy Brown Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show NFL Football - Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show - New England Patriots v Los Angeles Rams - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. - February 3, 2019. Adam Levine and James Valentine of Maroon 5 perform during the halftime show. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque KEVIN LAMARQUE Reuters Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) Scott Cunningham Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: A general view as Adam Levine and Maroon 5 perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Kevin C. Cox Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show NFL Football - Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show - New England Patriots v Los Angeles Rams - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. - February 3, 2019. Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during the halftime show. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque KEVIN LAMARQUE Reuters Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine of Maroon 5 and Travis Scott perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) Scott Cunningham Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Travis Scott, and Sleepy Brown perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) Maddie Meyer Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Al Bello Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Drones fly as Maroon 5 performs with Big Boi, Travis Scott, and Sleepy Brown during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Al Bello Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine and Maroon 5 perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) Mike Ehrmann Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine and Maroon 5 perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) Elsa Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: A general view of Maroon 5 performing during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) Scott Cunningham Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show epa07341620 Rapper Big Boi (C), Maroon 5's Adam Levine (L) and Sleepy Brown (R) perform during the halftime show of Super Bowl LIII between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 03 February 2019. EPA/LARRY W. SMITH LARRY W. SMITH EPA Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: A general view of Maroon 5 performing during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) Scott Cunningham Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) Scott Cunningham Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) Streeter Lecka Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show epa07341614 Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl LIII between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 03 February 2019. EPA/LARRY W. SMITH LARRY W. SMITH EPA Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) Rob Carr Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show epaselect epa07341557 Maroon 5's Adam Levine performs during the half time show of Super Bowl LIII between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 03 February 2019. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER ERIK S. LESSER EPA Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) Rob Carr Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show Adam Levine of Maroon 5, left, and Travis Scott perform during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Jeff Roberson AP Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Kevin Winter Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) Patrick Smith Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Al Bello Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show Feb 3, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine performs during the halftime show in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports Brett Davis USA TODAY Sports Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show Feb 3, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine and recording artist Travis Scott perform during the halftime show in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports Dale Zanine USA TODAY Sports Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Matt Rourke AP Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show Feb 3, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine performs during the halftime show in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports Brett Davis USA TODAY Sports Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Adam Levine and Maroon 5 perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) Jamie Squire Getty Best photos: Maroon 5 Super Bowl halftime show Feb 3, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Maroon 5 performs during halftime of Super Bowl LIII between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports Jason Getz USA TODAY Sports

Some even speculated that the outpouring of boredom and anger had been the cause of the issues. Reddit did not confirm the nature of the issue or how it had been fixed.

And yet more complained that they had missed out on a chance to discuss the appearance of Spongebob Squarepants in the show. That animated interlude was the result of an online campaign to have the character appear in the show – one that was helped along with the support of Reddit users.