Reddit’s Anti-Protest Policy Exposed

Reddit’s community-driven spirit is dying. Their new policies prove they’re more about profit than people — here’s how it all went wrong.

Reddit has always stood out through its unique model of self-governance. Unlike the manicured lawns of Facebook or the algorithmic overreach of Twitter, Reddit’s content and values are shaped by its users’ passions. And the heart and soul of this system have always been the volunteer moderators who dedicate their time to nurturing vibrant communities across countless subreddits. It’s a bottom-up approach that has remained Reddit’s defining feature.

Unfortunately — it’s also an increasingly fragile arrangement. Reddit has gone from a quirky online experiment to a billion dollar, post-IPO social media giant. And the interests of its corporate overlords are increasingly at odds with the freewheeling spirit of its user base.

The question now is: can Reddit maintain its unique character?

If their new policies are any indication — the answer is a resounding, fucking, no.

The Great Blackout of 2023

Some backstory: in June 2023, Reddit witnessed an unprecedented event that would come to be known as “The Great Blackout.” Thousands of subreddits, including many of the platform’s largest and most influential…