#29 Reddit = future of online communities?

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In this episode of the Contrarian Marketing Podcast, Kevin and Eli debate whether Reddit will live or die and what other UGC platforms can learn from that.

The Power of Reddit and the Open Web

Reddit is one of the largest online forums in the world, with over 400 million monthly active users. The platform hosts diverse communities centered around various topics and interests.

While Reddit's value lies in its user-generated content, recent controversies surrounding pricing changes for its API and its IPO plans have stirred up concerns within the Reddit community. Eli cautions that if Reddit continues to alienate its moderators, who are the backbone of the platform, it could potentially lead to the downfall of the company. He draws parallels to platforms like StumbleUpon and Digg, which faced challenges when they tried to change their algorithms and reduce the power of their users. Reddit must tread carefully to maintain its reputation and user base.

The Importance of Community-led Growth

Companies like Notion, Figma, and Miro rely on their communities to spread the word and drive user adoption. They moderate in-house and collaborate with community champions and ambassadors.

Rather than outsourcing moderation, which can lead to a loss of control and user trust, companies should establish clear boundaries and guidelines for their communities.

Reddit, being a platform that aggregates people and communities, must find a balance between retaining autonomy for individual communities and ensuring consistent content moderation is crucial for long-term success.

The platform heavily relies on volunteer moderators who have significant autonomy in governing their respective communities. While Reddit's leadership desires more control over content moderation to avoid controversies, attempts to exert control have sparked backlash from moderators and users.

❓What’s your take?

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