FOMO Sapiens with Patrick J. McGinnis Best of: Reddit COO Jen Wong on How To Preserve and Monetize Community-Driven Free Expression
Jul 5, 2024
Jen Wong, COO of Reddit and former Time Inc. executive, shares insights on leading one of the largest yet underrated social networks. She discusses Reddit's unique community-driven structure and the layers of moderation that foster authentic conversations. Wong explains how the platform attracts younger users through engagement and empowerment, and details Reddit's monetization strategies, including ads and cryptocurrency. She also reveals her growth vision, emphasizing the balance of free expression and advertiser safety in an evolving digital landscape.
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China Payments Spark FOMO
- Jen Wong describes her recent trip to China and feeling FOMO about payment tech like WeChat and Alipay.
- She experienced friction paying at a restaurant and worried the U.S. was falling behind on payments innovation.
Interest-First Private Communities
- Reddit centers on interest-driven, private communities rather than individual followings.
- That structure produces deeper, two-way discussions and honest responses distinct from other social platforms.
Volunteer Moderation Maintains Quality
- Subreddits each have volunteer human moderators who set rules and keep conversation on topic.
- This local moderation model preserves high-quality, focused discussion across diverse topics.