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.

  • sphxre@ani.socialEnglish
    1·
    16 days ago

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

  • Nima@leminal.spaceEnglish
    1·
    17 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.

    • JackAttack@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      0·
      17 days ago

      I disagree. I hate the decisions they make and personally, along with you, I think it’s idiotic.

      But while I hate on them, they will get away with it. Theyre not stupid. The decisions don’t align with its users but it will still work.

      Look at netflix raising prices for arguably worse content. Working for them.

      Reddit; Charging for the API essentially killing almost all 3rd party apps. Not sure the effect but reddit doesn’t seem to really be hurting. Users want to move but reddit is just too good. I even still use it because the user content on there is amazing. I try to ask all my questions/have discussions on lemmy, but I’m one person. Reddit has infinity more always contributing. I think the management sucks, but the platform just isn’t fully rivaled yet so they can keep milking their audience.

      • kinkles@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        1·
        17 days ago

        Netflix was always a paid service though. I don’t know if people will want to pay for something they’ve had for free for over a decade, especially if the free subreddits will still exist.

        I’d also imagine that for any paid subreddit, someone will make a free version with similar content.

      • Nailbar@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        0·
        16 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·
            16 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

    • ERROR: Earth.exe has crashed@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      1·
      16 days ago

      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.

    • MrVilliam@lemm.eeEnglish
      1·
      17 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.

    • samus12345@lemm.eeEnglish
      0·
      17 days ago

      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.

      • JustARegularNerd@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        17 days ago

        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.

        • samus12345@lemm.eeEnglish
          1·
          16 days ago

          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.