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The redesign is terrible for usability, but it does one thing very, very well: punish you for using an adblocker (sorry, "software blocker," lol). There are a

The redesign is terrible for usability, but it does one thing very, very well: punish you for using an adblocker (sorry, "software blocker," lol). There are a few other dark patterns hidden in there too, all coincidentally pushing in a direction that's good for reddit. I suspect that's the real purpose of the redesign and that all complaints will fall on deaf ears until someone actually manages to disrupt reddit.

simias 8y ago
>I suspect that's the real purpose of the redesign I mean at this point I don't think there's any doubt whatsoever. Is there even a plausible other explanation? I only lurk on reddit but it's rather comical how bad it's become. And not just the interface, the content too, /r/all is basically Facebook with a slightly younger audience and you have to get deeper and deeper into niche subreddits to find worthwhile discussions.
- somethingroma 8y ago
  > you have to get deeper and deeper into niche subreddits to find worthwhile discussions. Which raises the question wouldn't that be better served with a forum...
  - plopz 8y ago
    I think the issue with many disparate forums is discoverability.
    - le-mark 8y ago
      This seems to be the key/blocker for a decentralized internet, well social apps at least. If someone can solve discoverability, it'll make a lot of things possible.
- culot 8y ago
  Reddit has just gotten too big. So much of the bigger subs are fluffed with surreptitious sponsored content, reputation management, etc. I would have thought that that was where Reddit made the real money, by providing a back-end to make ads look like organic content, by helping moneyed backers influence discussion toward their monetised and brand-building ends. If Reddit isn't charging and managing those using their platform for that purpose -- not an insignificant number, surely -- they are fools.
oblio 8y ago
How does it punish you for blocking ads? Honest question.
- jjoonathan 8y ago
  It punishes you by not working until you give it an exception.

simias 8y ago

>I suspect that's the real purpose of the redesign I mean at this point I don't think there's any doubt whatsoever. Is there even a plausible other explanation? I only lurk on reddit but it's rather comical how bad it's become. And not just the interface, the content too, /r/all is basically Facebook with a slightly younger audience and you have to get deeper and deeper into niche subreddits to find worthwhile discussions.

somethingroma 8y ago
> you have to get deeper and deeper into niche subreddits to find worthwhile discussions. Which raises the question wouldn't that be better served with a forum...
- plopz 8y ago
  I think the issue with many disparate forums is discoverability.
  - le-mark 8y ago
    This seems to be the key/blocker for a decentralized internet, well social apps at least. If someone can solve discoverability, it'll make a lot of things possible.
culot 8y ago
Reddit has just gotten too big. So much of the bigger subs are fluffed with surreptitious sponsored content, reputation management, etc. I would have thought that that was where Reddit made the real money, by providing a back-end to make ads look like organic content, by helping moneyed backers influence discussion toward their monetised and brand-building ends. If Reddit isn't charging and managing those using their platform for that purpose -- not an insignificant number, surely -- they are fools.

oblio 8y ago

How does it punish you for blocking ads? Honest question.

jjoonathan 8y ago
It punishes you by not working until you give it an exception.