Some subreddits could be paywalled, hints Reddit CEO - 9to5Mac
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Reddit CEO Steve Huffman has hinted that in future some subreddits could be paywalled, as the company seeks to devise...

Reddit CEO Steve Huffman has hinted that in future some subreddits could be paywalled, as the company seeks to devise new sources of income.

He suggested that the company might experiment with paywalled subreddits as it looks to monetize new features. “I think the existing, altruistic, free version of Reddit will continue to exist and grow and thrive just the way it has,” Huffman said. “But now we will unlock the door for new use cases, new types of subreddits that can be built that may have exclusive content or private areas, things of that nature.”

This is another move likely to anger Redditors. While the platform is a commercial enterprise, its value derives almost entirely from freely offered user content. That means Redditors feel at least some sense of ownership in a community endeavour, so the company needs to tread carefully when it comes to monetization at user expense.

  • MoogleMaestro@lemmy.zipEnglish
    29·
    3 months ago

    I don’t even get how this would work. If you paywalled, say, /r/gaming, could you just make a new community called /r/freegaming? And do the moderators get paid for the communities they created?

    It all feels really half-baked and a desperate plea for money from investors when the money well is drying up.

    • iCy619@lemmy.worldEnglish
      12·
      3 months ago

      Then they’ll skate around that by implementing a paywall for creating new subs.

    • Raxiel@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      3 months ago

      Post submitters would have to get a cut to encourage them to post OC on the pay subs and file takedowns if anyone else reposted their content elsewhere. I think it could only work for single user subs.

      • darkkite@lemmy.mlEnglish
        1·
        3 months ago

        there’s dozens of gaming subreddits already though. like truegaming or something else. i don’t think many existing subreddits will do this. i do think nsfw creators will paywall their posts

        however if reddit goes that route i hope OF sues apple/google. I don’t like how some nsfw apps like reddit or x are allowed but others aren’t