If you’re an avid Redditor, you may have noticed some of your favorite subreddits disappearing from your feed. The reason why? The Reddit blackout.
But what is the Reddit blackout and why did it happen?
To answer that question, we turn to Kristi Hines at Search Engine Journal. According to Hines, the Reddit blackout is related to the site’s co-founder, Alexis Ohanian, stepping down from the board and urging that his spot be filled by a Black candidate. This move was in response to the killing of George Floyd and the subsequent protests calling for racial justice.
Despite Ohanian’s request, his spot was instead filled by another white board member. This decision sparked outrage within the Reddit community, leading to protests and discussions about racism on the site. In response, moderators of certain subreddits made their communities private or closed them altogether in protest of the decision.
One popular subreddit, r/science, was among those that went private. In a statement, the subreddit’s administrators explained, “We believe that the decisions made by Reddit undermine the integrity of our community and Reddit as a whole.”
The Reddit blackout not only affects the site’s users but also advertisers. As Hines points out, Reddit’s advertising platform relies heavily on user-generated content and active communities. With such a large portion of the site’s communities closed in protest, advertisers may experience a decline in traffic and engagement.
Despite the challenges the Reddit blackout presents, it’s also an opportunity for Reddit to address and improve issues of diversity and inclusion on its platform. As Hines concludes, “Hopefully, the changes Reddit makes moving forward will continue to foster community in a safe and inclusive way.”
So there you have it – the reasons behind the Reddit blackout. If you’re feeling lost without your go-to subreddits, fear not. It’s likely that they’ll be back up soon. In the meantime, let’s hope for positive changes within the Reddit community.
We want to thank the thought leader Kristi Hines as the source for this content and such awesome teachings on the subject and we hope that this article can help you and your business! Here’s the link to his post https://www.searchenginejournal.com/reddit-boycott-2023/489016/.
