Reddit will lock some content behind a paywall this year, CEO says
arstechnica.com
How will Reddit generate content for paid-for subreddits?

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.

      • Nailbar@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        0·
        8 days ago

        What’s to migrate other than your name? My reddit usage was limited to lurking so I genuinely don’t know.

          • JimmyMcGill@lemmy.worldEnglish
            0·
            8 days ago

            How do you even migrate history? Would people even want that

            Reputation definitely not. Also who even cares about reputation

            Subreddits you can migrate in some apps at least

            • interdimensionalmeme@lemmy.mlEnglish
              1·
              5 days ago

              If you can’t do these things then users and communities will remain locked to server instances and dominated by server owners and their moderation delegates just as they are on reddit. This is repeating the problem is not enacting the any of the promises of federation. It is federation for prisoners.

    • Tylerdurdon@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      9 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.

    • MrVilliam@lemm.eeEnglish
      0·
      9 days ago

      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.

      • datavoid@lemmy.mlEnglish
        1·
        9 days ago

        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!

  • sphxre@ani.socialEnglish
    3·
    8 days ago

    Hi, I think I’m doing this right. Just joined Lemmy lol because of this. Can people see my comment?

    • Phoenixz@lemmy.caEnglish
      1·
      8 days ago

      I left 2 years ago from my 13yo account, deleted everything as well

      Obligatory Fuck You spez

      No regrets, I love Lemmy

  • Nima@leminal.spaceEnglish
    1·
    9 days ago

    imagine charging for displaying content you didn’t even make.

    the balls are astounding, but this ain’t gonna go well for them.

    • brucethemoose@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      7 days ago

      If you don’t mind me asking, how did you find it?

      There are reports of Reddit banning Lemmy mentions, and Google searches floating “Lemmy is bad” Reddit threads to the top.

      • return2ozma@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        7 days ago

        I came over to Lemmy during the Great API third party disaster. The exodus had commenters saying to come over to Lemmy.

    • Ghostalmedia@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      9 days ago

      Bad news is that we’re still not setup for Reddit-level user counts. Lemmy needs much better moderation tools to allow communities to stay on top of reports.

      Hopefully a lot of new users will also produce new people contributing to Lemmy. Or, maybe some people will form some sort of nonprofit that allows dedicated designers and engineers to continually work on Lemmy. When people contribute as a side gig, most give up after a few months. Most of the Lemmy clients that were build during the Reddit APIocalypse are no longer alive.