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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

448 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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

And yet people will remain until the site exists. That's the sad part

[–] circuscritic@lemmy.ca 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Really this just sounds like YT membership, allowing users to create subscriptions for premium/special content e.g. gambling picks, porn, etc.

If that's all it was intended to be, it could have been an actually useful and not intrusive monetization strategy....5 years ago.

Even if that's how the feature gets rolled out now, unless it's an unmitigated disaster, I don't see them being capable of not overplaying their hand.

They will assume that because some users are willing to pay for private porn content, or gambling pick subreddits, that of course most users must also be willing to pay for cat photos and memes.

Personally, I am all for it. I am for Reddit making the worst choices possible and speed running their decline. Mostly, I would like a user exodus that results in Lemmy finally getting growth in a lot of their more niche communities that still keep me using Reddit on occasion.

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

"But now we will unlock the door for new use cases" ... like locking doors.

[–] RubyRhod@lemm.ee 4 points 3 months ago

Stg I got out just in time.

[–] ImplyingImplications@lemmy.ca 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

My guess is he wants to monetize the onlyfans posters. "Subscribe to my subreddit for $5 a month!"

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[–] ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org 4 points 3 months ago

I'm glad I've overwritten all my comments.

The easiest tool: PowerDeleteSuite
Don't forget to make the script prepare a backup file and download it once complete. In the replacement string, link to your Lemmy account so that anyone looking for the content can just PM you.

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

If only there was a free and open platform as an alternative to Reddit.

[–] BigDiction@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago (2 children)

If they are trying to monetize popular NSFW subs they cannot monetize with ads, a paywall would probably just kill the engagement.

If they are trying to compete with OnlyFans and rev share with the sub creator I could maybe see that working.

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[–] i2ndshenanigans@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

So they want people to possibly pay to visit certain subreddits and the content of those subreddits is most definitely going to stay server submitted and curated. Getting people to pay to be able to submit their own content is going to go over well with the user base. They are probably going to do it with the NSFW subreddits.

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

So OnlyFans for Reddit. More spam incoming.

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