Controversial Reddit communities: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:36, 3 July 2025

Revision as of 23:54, 7 July 2025

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On the [[social news site]] [[Reddit]], some communities (known as ''[[subreddits]]'' or ''subs'') are centred around [[Sexually explicit content|explicit]], [[Graphic violence|violent]], [[Propaganda|propagandist]], or [[Online hate speech|hateful]] material. Many such subreddits have been the topic of controversy, at times receiving significant media coverage. [[Journalist]]s, [[Attorney at law|attorney]]s, [[Media studies|media researcher]]s, and others have commented that such communities shape and promote [[bias]]ed views of [[International relations|international politics]], the veracity of [[evidence-based medicine]], [[Misogyny|misogynistic]] rhetoric, and other socially disruptive concepts.

Contrary to popular opinion as well as previous staff practices and statements, the founders of Reddit have stated they did not intend the platform to be a "bastion of [[free speech]]", where even [[Online hate speech|hate speech]] would be tolerated.<ref name="bastion">{{cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |title=Was Reddit always about free speech? Yes, and no |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/7/15/8964995/reddit-free-speech-history |website=The Verge |date=June 15, 2015 |access-date=September 22, 2021}}</ref> However, for a period of time, Reddit allowed these controversial communities to operate largely unrestricted. The site's Generalgeneral Managermanager, Erik Martin, has argued that objectionable material is a consequence of allowing free speech on the site.

Eventually, Reddit administrators instituted usage rules to allow for the banning of groups and members who stole or [[Doxingdoxing|exposed personal information or images]] or promoted illegal activity, violence, [[Online shaming|shaming]], [[Racism|race]] or [[Gender-related violence|gender-based hatred]], [[Online harassment|harassment]], or [[extremist]] speech. Nevertheless, there remain various active and heavily-trafficked subreddits which skirt the edges of the rules.

Critics argue that while concerned Redditors and moderators often report these subs, they often remain open until a specific incident, or the actions of an individual, forces them to come under more intense scrutiny and requires administrators to decide between allowing distasteful content or suppressing dangerous or destructive communities. Critics have also charged that the site has been inconsistent in what it bans. Some banned users and communities have created or moved to other platforms, with some even saving a duplicate of their subreddit in order to preserve it elsewhere, in the event it gets banned.