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Reddit plans to lock some content behind a paywall this year, CEO says | Reddit executives also discussed how they might introduce more ads into the social media platform (arstechnica.com)
submitted 4 days ago by ForgottenFlux to c/technology
258 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Reddit is planning to introduce a paywall this year, CEO Steve Huffman said during a videotaped Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on Thursday.

Huffman previously showed interest in potentially introducing a new type of subreddit with "exclusive content or private areas" that Reddit users would pay to access.

When asked this week about plans for some Redditors to create "content that only paid members can see," Huffman said:

It’s a work in progress right now, so that one’s coming... We're working on it as we speak.

When asked about "new, key features that you plan to roll out for Reddit in 2025," Huffman responded, in part: “Paid subreddits, yes.”

Reddit's paywall would ostensibly only apply to certain new subreddit types, not any subreddits currently available.

Reddit executives also discussed how they might introduce more ads into the social media platform. The push for ads follows changes to Reddit’s API policy that, in part, led to the closing of most third-party apps used for accessing Reddit. Reddit makes most of its revenue from ads and can only show ads on its native apps and website.

Reddit started testing ads in comments last year, with COO Jen Wong saying during an AMA that such ads are in “about 3 percent of inventory.” The executive hinted at that percentage growing. Wong also shared hopes that contextual advertising, or ads being shown based on the content surrounding them, will be a “bigger part of” Reddit’s business by 2026.

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[–] Kyle_The_G 394 points 4 days ago (7 children)

I'm glad I jumped ship back during the ban on 3rd party apps. That was it for me.

[–] [email protected] 105 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Same. I had even paid for the paid tier of my 3rd party app because it was such a good value to me that I wanted the devs to have some of my money. Thanks to that app, I was on the site more and pretty much never via computer anymore.

I think it was for the best though. Quality over quantity here. I find it to be far less toxic on Lemmy overall. It's like how people tend to be nicer in a small town because you know you're gonna run into these people over and over again, but the big city you came from had more variety in stuff to check out. Definitely a trade-off, but I think it's worth it to have this much more pleasant space that isn't so packed with content as to be addictive. Good vibes.

[–] [email protected] 33 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I've gone back to reddit a few times from searches, and after spending time away it is really apparent how negative most of the comments over there are.

For example, anytime someone asks for help, someone always has to show up and get angry that they didn't search instead of asking. Then a third person shows up and says that a search brought them to this thread.. and no one ever answers the question. Thanks reddit!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 days ago

There are some instances where Reddit is still a great source of information just due to the sheer size of the community. But there's a lot more shit to wade through after the exodus a couple years back. I haven't signed back in for years.

[–] Kyle_The_G 5 points 4 days ago

Its improving over time, I think it'll find a decent grove as more communities pop up. I find the comment sections really engaging too I've had some solid conversations over here.

[–] Tylerdurdon 39 points 4 days ago

Yep. When RIF was killed, I closed that door immediately (was not easy). It was to be expected though, I think. Once a site reaches critical mass, money interests enter the picture and greed can always screw up a good thing. It's a shame.

[–] [email protected] 33 points 4 days ago (2 children)

I don't even use any apps and was just planning on boycotting it for a few days in solidarity. Then Greedy Little Pigboy made his statement about how everyone will come crawling back and that was that.

[–] Kyle_The_G 17 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Oh i didn't even hear about that. Fuck spez.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

The memo is in this article, if you're curious.

[–] Kyle_The_G 4 points 4 days ago

thank!

[–] JustARegularNerd 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

This is the actual reason for me too. I'm making a point to never visit that website again.

There's exceptions like when searching for troubleshooting help and a relevant result happens to be on Reddit, but otherwise I avoid it as much as possible.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I figure as long as you visit with adblock enabled and don't post anything, you're not contributing to them in any meaningful way.

[–] JustARegularNerd 3 points 3 days ago

Agreed, and to be fair I still stop in at niche subreddits I used to follow to see what's new, but never logged in.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 4 days ago

Same, my mouth dropped reading the article.

Obligatory fuck spez

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 days ago

Wild that that was almost 2 years ago now..

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Tbh, I didn't care about the 3rd party apps.

I just didn't like the silencing of opposition.

If they are willing to do mass censorship for benign things like a 3rd party apps protest, what's to say they wont booklick governments/corportions and censor info of horrible things that a government/corporation is doing.

It's the censorship that I was more afraid of. Besides, I always wanted a decentalized platform, but none of it had any users until June 12, 2023.

[–] roguetrick 3 points 3 days ago

That's the truth. It was tone deafness, a lack of responsiveness, and a clear lack of principles that made me leave during that.

[–] Strider 2 points 3 days ago

Me too.

Man people really like taking a beating.