this post was submitted on 14 Feb 2025
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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.

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[–] Kyle_The_G@lemmy.world 397 points 1 week ago (8 children)

I'm glad I jumped ship back during the ban on 3rd party apps. That was it for me.

[–] MrVilliam@lemm.ee 105 points 1 week ago (2 children)

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.ml 34 points 1 week ago (1 children)

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!

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[–] Tylerdurdon@lemmy.world 40 points 1 week 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.

[–] samus12345@lemm.ee 33 points 1 week ago (6 children)

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.

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[–] Nima@leminal.space 167 points 1 week ago (10 children)

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.com 49 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (9 children)

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.works 22 points 1 week ago (1 children)

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.

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[–] dreadbeef@lemmy.dbzer0.com 27 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

This is probably targeting a adult content creators, aka trying to get a finger in onlyfans' pie

source: my ass, but I'm just smellin where money's goin is all

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[–] sphxre@ani.social 129 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (15 children)

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

[–] dantheclamman@lemmy.world 30 points 1 week ago

Yes! Welcome to the fediverse

[–] atx_aquarian@lemmy.world 22 points 1 week ago
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[–] TheFeatureCreature@lemmy.world 82 points 1 week ago (3 children)
[–] BedSharkPal@lemmy.ca 44 points 1 week ago (5 children)
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[–] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 24 points 1 week ago (1 children)

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.

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[–] bromosapiens@lemm.ee 81 points 1 week ago (12 children)

I just left, deleted my account of 15ish years tonight, no regrets. Happy to be here.

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[–] daniskarma@lemmy.dbzer0.com 67 points 1 week ago (9 children)

Ok tidy up this place. We have visitors coming soon.

[–] robbinhood@lemmy.world 21 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The announcement is why I created a username here. I doubt I'm coming alone.

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[–] daggermoon@lemmy.world 51 points 1 week ago (1 children)

That's why I left. I regret nothing.

[–] Captainautism@lemmy.dbzer0.com 21 points 1 week ago

I’m so glad I left.

[–] Brown_dude69@lemmy.world 44 points 1 week ago (7 children)

Just came to lemmy again after learning this shit!! mass exodus coming soon

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[–] sbv@sh.itjust.works 37 points 1 week ago (8 children)

I'm surprised they aren't talking about subscriber subreddits. With the amount of porn/OnlyFans posts, I would have thought they could position Reddit as a friendly and familiar OF alternative.

[–] Death_Equity@lemmy.world 21 points 1 week ago (3 children)

I wouldn't be surprised if NSFW subreddit are what he is talking about.

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[–] five82@lemmy.world 35 points 1 week ago (3 children)

I haven't had an account since the Apollo purge but fuck Spez.

[–] T00l_shed@lemmy.world 26 points 1 week ago (2 children)

The api shit they pulled is why i left and never went back

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[–] shortrounddev@lemmy.world 34 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] StupidBrotherInLaw@lemmy.world 32 points 1 week ago

We all float down here 💩💩💩

[–] Toribor@corndog.social 33 points 1 week ago (9 children)

I'm not on Reddit much these days but every time I am and I see threads with people discussing these Reddit policy changes Lemmy gets mentioned. Usually with people complaining they already tried or couldn't figure it out or that it isn't good enough...

I think as the enshittification marches on they'll be some more exodus from Reddit but generally I think everyone is just getting used to all online social media being a total corporate disaster.

[–] scaryvicar@lemm.ee 36 points 1 week ago (8 children)

I just joined yesterday because of this article. Honestly I feel like I’m using Apollo to access Reddit again. My Reddit account was 12 years old and I deleted it.

[–] JimmyMcGill@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago

Welcome

We’re happy to have you here

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Another day of thanking my past self for leaving

[–] eagleeyedtiger@lemmy.nz 31 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Can't wait to see the mental gymnastics subreddit moderators will perform to defend this!

[–] schema@lemmy.world 25 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (5 children)

It was wild how spineless most of them were when the API stuff happened, and it showed how attached they are to their little bubble of power.

And some of them acted even more pathetic with virtue signaling.

Like the r/de mods allowed memes for a full week in "protest". Such rebels... they sure showed spez with that one...

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[–] cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 30 points 1 week ago

watch them lock old reddit behind a paywall just because it's the best part about reddit

[–] ekZepp@lemmy.world 27 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)
[–] rando@sh.itjust.works 26 points 1 week ago (5 children)

Hopefully this will drive even more users to switch over. I find myself finding Reddit less useful as time passes by

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[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 26 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Man this reddit site sounds awful

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[–] Absaroka@lemmy.world 26 points 1 week ago (4 children)

Late this fall, after all of the nonsense on Reddit, Facebook, and Instagram I asked myself a very simple question.

"Is the reason I joined these sites still valid? What do I actually enjoy about social media these days?"

The answer was basically "rose colored glasses."

I joined **Reddit **after the 'deaths' of Slashdot and Digg. It became my source to get new and interesting content I probably wouldn't have found otherwise. Now it's bots arguing with bots and 75+% of the content is just recycled shit by people trying to make money. Much of the rest is from people trying to manipulate you.

Delete.

I joined Facebook to keep in touch with my friends and family - especially those I don't see often. Over time, the amount of good content from people I knew dropped to maybe 25% of my feed. Most of it now is AI-generated bullshit or more of the same recycled content you see on Reddit.

Delete.

I joined Instagram to share some of my landscape photos and view some of the great photos some close friends were sharing. Over time that became less and less. Queue the recycled and AI-bullshit content.

Delete.

So, I challenge everybody to ask themselves do they actually enjoy social media? Do these sites actually add value to your life and in any way remain true to their promise when you joined them so many moons ago. Are you actually making any connections with people? The 'social' in 'social' media? Or just watching people talk at each other, not to each other.

After answering those questions, the answer about whether to stick around is pretty clear.

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[–] njordomir@lemmy.world 24 points 1 week ago (5 children)

Is there anywhere I can find a complete scrape of Reddit threads and comments from before the 3rd party app apocalypse? There was a lot of useful info shared on there, but I don't want anything to do with what that site has become. I'm happy just to CTRL+F a big dataset. It'll probably still work better than either Reddit or Google does nowadays. Without media I imagine I could fit it somewhere.

Also, Spez is a greedy little pig boy.

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[–] magnetosphere@fedia.io 24 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Reddit has gotten so bad that it’s funny. I love reading about whatever awkward, bumbling cash grab they’re trying next.

What’s a good word for constant, ongoing enshittification? Diarrheafication?

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[–] needthosepylons@lemmy.world 22 points 1 week ago

What's Reddit? A clone of Lemmy?

[–] tiaxcrystal@lemm.ee 21 points 1 week ago

That's why I'm here. Just made an account. Sick of everything being a goddamn subscription.

[–] harrys_balzac@lemmy.dbzer0.com 20 points 1 week ago (2 children)

So, what's the stage after "enshitification"? "Enspezed?"

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