Reddit is facing backlash from moderators as it appears to be pressuring them to reopen communities that closed during the blackout protest against platform changes. An admin, who is an employee of Reddit, has informed unpaid volunteer moderators that the expectation is for communities to reopen. This message was shared publicly by a moderator of the r/DIY subreddit.
The pressure seems to have worked, as the r/DIY community reopened on Thursday. A moderator explained that they decided to reopen because they feared that Reddit-appointed moderators may not care about the subreddit as much as they do. While the community has been reopened, the changes made to the subreddit’s rules have raised concerns. These changes align more closely with Reddit’s general requirements but may undo the quality improvements that were achieved through previous norms and rule tweaks. Some of the changes include no longer requiring users to do basic research and lowering the standard for what is considered spam.
Similar rhetoric has been observed in messages from other moderators. The admin account ModCodeofConduct told the moderators of r/homeimprovement that remaining closed is not an option and asked if any mods wish to participate in opening the community. The r/harrypotter moderator account also received a message stating that keeping the community closed is not an option, despite users voting for the subreddit to be private.
More than 2,600 subreddits remain dark in protest, and members of the r/ModCoord (moderator coordination) community continue to share their stories of receiving threatening and intimidating messages from Reddit. One user with a small 27-user subreddit expressed concern about being threatened for staying blacked out. Others have labeled Reddit as a bully and claimed that the messages they received were harassment and intimidation.
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Despite the outcry, Reddit has not yet provided a comment on the situation. Reddit spokesperson Tim Rathschmidt stated that they would no longer respond to hearsay, unsubstantiated claims, or baseless accusations from The Verge. Reddit has not deemed any corrections necessary, implying that they stand by their actions.
The pressure on moderators to reopen communities raises questions about the power dynamics between Reddit, its administrators, and volunteer moderators. The unpaid moderators invest their time and effort into managing these communities, often out of passion and dedication. However, they are now feeling coerced into reopening communities against their will.
The situation also highlights the challenge of balancing the needs and expectations of Reddit as a platform and its diverse user base. Reddit has faced criticism in the past for allowing communities that promote hate speech or illicit activities to thrive on its platform. By tightening rules and making changes, Reddit aims to address these concerns and create a safer environment. However, this approach can create conflicts with moderators who have implemented their own rules and norms to maintain the quality and integrity of their communities.
It remains to be seen how Reddit will address the concerns raised by moderators and if there will be any resolution to the ongoing protests. The incident serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between platform administrators and volunteer moderators, and the challenges that arise when balancing the interests of the company and its user community.
