Reddit will lock some content behind a paywall this year, CEO says
arstechnica.com
How will Reddit generate content for paid-for subreddits?
  • vegantomato@lemmy.worldBanned
    0·
    2 years ago

    Reddit has been shit since 2014, some would argue since its inception. It never properly replaced serious forums that specialized on their own niche, like PC hardware, gossip, cars, or whatever. The subreddit replacements always felt like lower quality EVEN THOUGH Reddit mods are (in general) more trigger happy than those running proper forums. The astroturfing, the deception, the lack of respect for its users, the UX dark patterns, it has all been getting worse and worse. Some haven’t gotten the memo yet, that Reddit serves no one but itself, it’s a cancer.

    dictionary

    astroturfing = “Public relations tactic using fake grassroots movements” (used by, among others, corporations, politicians (remember the Trump 2016 campaign on Reddit?), and governments)

    UX dark pattern = user experience dark pattern = “A dark pattern is a design feature that subtly encourages users to perform a specific action.” (like Reddit’s “Howdy paddner” error if you use a VPN so that they can de-anonymize you)

    • Nino477@lemmy.world
      0·
      2 years ago

      The amount of hatred I feel when I’m on my PC using a VPN and trying to look up something on reddit since it’s first in search results.

  • Rogue@feddit.uk
    0·
    2 years ago

    It’ll be the porn they charge for.

    They know only wankers will give them money.

    • TexMexBazooka@lemm.ee
      0·
      2 years ago

      What’s funny about that is Reddit is mostly just an advertising front for onlyfans at this point

      • tempest@lemmy.ca
        0·
        2 years ago

        I mean yeah, and that’s the piece of the pie they want. It will start with letting content creators charge and probably end by some ban or disincentive on direct only fans links.

    • ipkpjersi@lemmy.ml
      0·
      2 years ago

      There isn’t really any porn left on reddit, it’s pretty much just OnlyFans ads now.

    • FunCube@feddit.orgDeutsch
      0·
      2 years ago

      First they came for the porn subreddits, but I didn’t say anything because I was not a porn subreddit.

  • Mickey7@lemmy.world
    0·
    2 years ago

    Interesting article. Clearly says the pay groups would be new groups and this wouldn’t affect any existing groups.

    • TachyonTele@lemm.ee
      0·
      2 years ago

      Assuming that’s true, all they have to do is close down any sub they want a subscription from. New sub is made, new sub is required.

      Subreddit takes on a whole new meaning.

      • Somewhiteguy@lemmy.world
        0·
        2 years ago

        That’s assuming they don’t look at a sub and just say “you’re now paid, congrats” and the mods just go along with it. I can see greedy mods seeing the ability to profit from that kind of forceful hand and then complaining about disengagement.

    • Ledericas@lemm.eeEnglish
      0·
      2 years ago

      probably going to bury the “free” groups til they cant be seen in a feed, and promote the paid ones to the front page 100% of the time. much like how youtube does it, the most “paid” popular channels get 100% front page coverage.

  • Etterra@discuss.onlineEnglish
    0·
    2 years ago

    Just remember, when the barrier to entry is low then the quality of participants declines.

    Edit: I just realized that I should have specified an intellectual barrier. In the case of Lemmy that’s the minuscule technical understanding or research ability needed to sign up and get on an instance. It’s amazing how just that tiny obstructions helps keep out the dumbest of Reddit users.

    • Lka1988@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      0·
      2 years ago

      Too late with the API changes. There are lots of old guides that were deleted or changed in protest, and whole subs that went MIA or got banned.