Reddit CEO Steve Huffman on mod revolt, building a legendary community & more | E1763

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Jun 17, 2023

In this discussion, Steve Huffman, Co-founder and CEO of Reddit, shares insights on the evolution of the platform and its vibrant community. He dives into the delicate balance of free speech and safety, emphasizing the 'Keep it real' ethos that fuels open debates. Huffman also addresses the ongoing challenges with third-party apps, the importance of diverse ideas in moderation, and Reddit's identity as a space for authentic dialogue in a time of misinformation.

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INSIGHT

Community-Driven Growth

Reddit's success stems from trusting the community and giving them control.
This approach, similar to Craigslist and eBay, fosters organic growth and user engagement.

INSIGHT

Innate Human Desire

Human beings naturally form communities, both online and offline.
Reddit facilitates this innate human desire, fostering a sense of belonging among users.

INSIGHT

Balancing Free Speech and Safety

Free speech is crucial for a healthy society, and Reddit upholds this principle.
However, Reddit also prioritizes user safety and has content policies against hate, harassment, and other harmful content.

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Today’s show:

Reddit CEO and Co-Founder Steve Huffman joins Jason to discuss building a platform that serves Reddit's community (13:33), addresses the situation with third-party apps and moderators (35:00), and much more!

Time stamps:

(00:00) Reddit CEO Steve Huffman joins Jason

(2:40) The evolution of Reddit and its community

(4:10) The tailwinds powering Reddit and Steve's thoughts on speech mitigation

(12:00) Trovata - Use code TWIST at https://trovata.io/twist for 30% off one year of premium features, like AI forecasting

(13:33) The Reddit "Keep it real" ethos and the importance of allowing open debate

(17:47) Authoritarianism and challenging orthodoxies

(24:29) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at ⁠https://Embroker.com/twist

(25:44) Steve's optimism for AI and why this is only the beginning

(35:00) The response to Reddit's API use in various LLMs

(37:57) Eight Sleep - Go to https://eightsleep.com/twist to check out the Pod Pro Cover and get $150 off at checkout!

(39:29) Going in-depth on Reddit's situation and API history

(48:03) What it comes down to for third-party apps

(56:20) What changed Steve's opinion on advertising

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