Follow my logic:

1. The Reddit blackout has been a huge, huge success.  It’s got tons of media coverage.
2. The Reddit CEO, Steve Huffman, write a memo defensively trivializing it.  As we pointed out, he makes 6 different minimizing statements in only 291 words, as if he was trying to convince people rather than stating facts.
3. Many subreddits reacted by saying they’re staying in private mode after the original 48-hour protest.
4. While Huffman claims that there’s not been any “significant” revenue impact, obviously the longer that continues, the more significant it will become.

So why not simply disallow private subs?  Sure, private subs are very valuable to the community, but they’re a small part of the overall platform and certainly add far less to Reddit’s bottom line than normal subs.  That doesn’t mean they’d have to throw open the doors to every existing private sub.  They could say something like:

• for subs private prior to June 12, they will remain private but new threads and members will no longer be allowed, and these subs will either have to go public or be sunset by December 31
• any sub taking private after that date will revert to public status
• from this point forward, we have deprecated private subs

The announcement almost writes itself.  They’d use phrases like

• “increase openness, transparency, and inclusivity”
• “aligns with our values to building community”
• “we will continue to evolve our platform to best meet the needs of our members”
• “in private conversations with Reddit thought leaders, feedback and reaction to this change has been overwhelmingly positive”
• “we encourage you to reach out using our normal feedback channels and tell us what you think”

Heck, ChatGPT could write it for them.

Prompt: “write a post from the Reddit CEO announcing that Reddit will no longer allow private subreddits”

Hello, Redditors!

I hope you’re all having a fantastic day filled with engaging conversations and thought-provoking discussions. Today, I’d like to share a significant update regarding our platform’s subreddit policy.

After careful consideration and extensive discussions with our community, we have made the decision to discontinue the existence of private subreddits on Reddit. This change is part of our ongoing commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and fostering an environment where every voice can be heard.

Private subreddits have served a purpose in the past, providing users with exclusive spaces to connect and share content in a more restricted manner. However, we have come to realize that the concept of privacy within a public forum can be a double-edged sword. While it can create safe spaces for certain discussions, it also has the potential to breed exclusion, misinformation, and echo chambers that hinder healthy dialogue.

As a platform committed to promoting open dialogue and facilitating the exchange of diverse perspectives, we believe that removing private subreddits will contribute to a more inclusive and vibrant Reddit experience. This change aligns with our vision of fostering meaningful connections, encouraging dialogue across communities, and reducing the risk of isolated pockets of information.

We understand that this decision may raise questions and concerns among those who currently moderate or participate in private subreddits. To ensure a smooth transition, we will be working closely with moderators to assist them in migrating their communities to public or restricted subreddits, depending on the nature of their discussions.

We recognize that there are certain sensitive topics where privacy is essential, such as support groups or communities for marginalized individuals. To address these needs, we are introducing new tools and features that will allow users to create restricted subreddits. These restricted subreddits will strike a balance between privacy and accessibility, ensuring that important discussions can still take place while maintaining the integrity of the wider Reddit community.

We understand that change can be challenging, but we firmly believe that this decision will have a positive impact on the overall health and inclusivity of our platform. By eliminating private subreddits, we aim to foster a more open and interconnected community that thrives on respectful dialogue, diversity of ideas, and shared experiences.

We appreciate your ongoing support and patience as we implement these changes. Our team will be actively engaging with the community to address any questions or concerns you may have. Together, we can shape Reddit into an even more vibrant and inclusive platform.

Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey!

Sincerely,

[Reddit CEO]

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raindog308

Dread Lord of LowEnd Content at LowEndBox

I'm raindog308, techno polymath and long-time LowEndTalk community Administrator. My technical interests include all things Unix, perl, python, golang, shell scripting, vintage operating systems such as MVS, and relational database systems such as Oracle, PostgreSQL, and MySQL.

I also enjoy using LEBs! I have an empire of little guys for VPNs, larger guys for apps, and big guys for databases and storage. When I'm not in front a screen I'm into German Shepherd dogs, quality knives, target shooting, theology, tabletop roleplaying games, and forest hiking.

I enjoy writing technical articles here on LowEndBox to help people get more out of their systems. You can find me on LowEndTalk @raindog308

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