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Some subreddits could be paywalled, hints Reddit CEO (9to5mac.com)

submitted 3 months ago by ForgottenFlux@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

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Reddit CEO Steve Huffman has hinted that in future some subreddits could be paywalled, as the company seeks to devise new sources of income.

He suggested that the company might experiment with paywalled subreddits as it looks to monetize new features. “I think the existing, altruistic, free version of Reddit will continue to exist and grow and thrive just the way it has,” Huffman said. “But now we will unlock the door for new use cases, new types of subreddits that can be built that may have exclusive content or private areas, things of that nature.”

This is another move likely to anger Redditors. While the platform is a commercial enterprise, its value derives almost entirely from freely offered user content. That means Redditors feel at least some sense of ownership in a community endeavour, so the company needs to tread carefully when it comes to monetization at user expense.

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[–] ripcord@lemmy.world 41 points 3 months ago (5 children)

So...this is for porn.

Only fans, but on Reddit.

I suspect it will work out sickeningly well for them.

[–] Sunroc@lemmy.world 9 points 3 months ago

Proof of concept for allowing super users to have a patreon model maybe?

Though I can't remember the last time there were site wide famous users. Last I remember is that bird lady.

If this is their endgame the bot problem would get even worse as the value proposition improves for abusers

[–] Gestrid@lemmy.ca 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

So...this is for porn.

Only if those subreddits have something where the user... creating that gets a portion of every subscription payment.

[–] MataVatnik@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

Not only that, reddit won't be able to take more that 15% in order to be competitive with onlyfans. And also, the subs will have to be exclusive to one creator otherwise how would you spread payments

[–] MataVatnik@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Only if it's a competitive model, only fans takes 15%, not sure about patreon, fansly, and other platforms. So reddit will need to take no more than 15% for creators to want to participate. And if you monetize a sub with multiple users, how will you spread the money? And how are you making sure reddit is paying out the fair share? So pay wall subs won't really work unless they are exclusive to one creator.

[–] ripcord@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

OK, so you've laid out they're likely to do.

[–] xenoclast@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

But... How? What's stopping people from cross posting ? Creating new subreddits that mirror closed ones?

I mean that's a lot of effort for very little reward...

[–] IAmNotACat@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

All the big companies trying to clear out the porn to make it monetisable, only for porn to be the answer all along...