Here, we’ll take a look at why so many Subreddits have recently turned private.
Why Are Some Subreddits Going Private?
Recently, the moderators of over 450 Subreddits requested Reddit to combat the COVID-19 misinformation being spread on its site in an open letter.
The moderators believe that the pandemic has affected everyone’s lives, and misinformation spreading on Reddit about the subject will only make things worse. They also criticized Reddit for doing nothing serious against the Subreddits spreading misinformation.
Responding to this request, Reddit’s CEO turned down the request to take action against these Subreddits. He wrote: “While we are providing reliable COVID-19-related resources on our website and redirecting users to CDC and r/Coronavirus, we won’t ban those who disagree with the popular consensus”.
Soon after Reddit’s response, hundreds of Subreddits went private en masse, as a protest against Reddit’s inaction. The most popular of these Subreddits include r/futurology, r/tifu, r/PokemonGo, r/StarTrek, and r/Florida. More Subreddits, which were part of the plea, are expected to follow the suit.
What Is a Private Subreddit?
A private Subreddit means that the page won’t be accessible to the public anymore. While existing members can still access these private Subreddits, new users can only join through an invitation or request.
A similar protest had happened earlier this year when Reddit hired a controversial politician and suspended a moderator who raised the issue. Though that protest succeeded, only time will tell if Reddit will bow to pressure this time.
Should Reddit Act Against Misinformation?
Ever since the pandemic began, false information about the virus, masks, social distancing rules, and vaccines has spread online. While some other social platforms have done a lot to curb the spread of this misinformation, Reddit has done little to tackle misinformation.
Though Reddit is a place of debate and dissent, you could argue that its moderators should decide whether to draw a line between dissent and misinformation.
