Ahead of IPO, Reddit blends advertising into user posts
Reddit’s move to make ads look more like regular user posts, timed just before its IPO, is seen by many as another step in the “enshittification” of a once‑beloved platform. Commenters question whether executives even use the site themselves, criticize the official app and ad tools, and predict that shareholder pressure will further erode user experience, especially if old.reddit.com is shut down. Alternatives like Lemmy, ad blockers, and third‑party bridges are raised as escape hatches, while some also view the IPO as a risky or shortable bet given Reddit’s lack of profitability and dependence on unpaid moderators.
Reddit UX, Dogfooding, and Mobile Apps
- Several commenters argue Reddit leadership doesn’t “use their own product,” leading to unforced UX and product errors.
- The official app is widely criticized as clunky, unreliable, notification‑spammy, and less feature‑rich than third‑party clients like Apollo and RIF.
- Others counter that the app is “fine,” performant, and hard to replicate, and that much of the hate is blowback from shutting down third‑party apps rather than current quality issues.
- Dogfooding is framed as critical; one commenter cites an EV CEO improving charging after personally experiencing how bad it was.
Ads Blended Into Posts and Enshittification
- Many see “promoted posts” that mimic user content as another step in making the product worse to squeeze more revenue, comparing it to Google and Twitter’s ad-label erosion.
- Some note Reddit already had post-like ads; the change is that they’re now less obviously ads and can be native Reddit posts.
- Users share uBlock/custom filter rules to hide such ads, and several say this practice is a “nail in the coffin” that reduces trust and usefulness.
- A minority say Reddit’s ad quality is relatively good and sometimes contextually clever.
IPO, Business Model, and Investment Views
- Strong skepticism about the IPO: many see Reddit as unprofitable, overvalued, and mainly an exit for existing stakeholders.
- Some plan to short the stock post‑IPO or after lockup expiry; others warn that such patterns are likely priced in.
- A few explore it as a “fun stock” or short‑term “pop” play but prefer broad index funds for serious investing.
- There is disagreement on what Reddit sells: some say eyeballs and user data; others emphasize “influence” and purchasable reputation.
User Exodus, Alternatives, and Old Reddit
- Many former heavy users say the API changes and loss of third‑party apps sharply reduced their engagement.
- Lemmy/Fediverse are discussed but seen as immature, niche, and missing Reddit’s depth and network effects; bridges and subreddit‑to‑Lemmy mapping projects are in progress.
- Old.reddit.com is widely preferred; several say they will quit if it’s shut down, and some rely on redirects or alternative frontends (e.g., teddit).
Broader Structural Concerns
- Commenters link Reddit’s trajectory to “MBA‑ification,” enshittification, and ad‑driven incentives that gradually degrade UX.
- Some worry IPO-era shareholder pressure will further align Reddit toward content manipulation, reputation selling, and away from user/community interests.