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That's the problem with the vast majority of modern social networks, they're effectively designed from the ground up as a huge bait and switch: be user friendly

by simias 8y ago

That's the problem with the vast majority of modern social networks, they're effectively designed from the ground up as a huge bait and switch: be user friendly to attract a community then become advertiser friendly when the community is well established and the network effects mean that most of it is captive. Even if 90% of reddit users are unhappy with the way the platform is run most of them probably won't consider giving up on their favorite subreddits. It's the same situation with Youtube, Facebook and others, and I'm sure it'll eventually be that way with Discord and whatever other flavor-of-the-year social network is popular these days. As far as I can tell the only way around that is distributed and/or not-for-profit social networks where the users are actually in charge. MWWA: Make the Web a Web Again.

jjoonathan 8y ago
Yep. Breaking in the presence of "software blockers" (lol) so that you add reddit to your exception list is an evil feature, not a bug.
- teddyfrozevelt 8y ago
  You don’t have to whitelist all of reddit, just gateway.reddit.com. Unless something has changed, this still blocks ads. Blame the filter lists.
ddingus 8y ago
Had Reddit not been sold, it was self sustaining.
- simias 8y ago
  I don't think being self sustaining is sufficient if you're a web company these days. Shareholders want growth. Execs whose bonuses are indexed on growth want growth. It's always more, more users, more ads, more engagement... Why earn one million when you can earn two? Who cares if you're the new Digg if you could be the new Facebook instead?
  - aldoushuxley001 8y ago
    It's easy enough to be a 100% private social media company that isn't solely driven by maximizing profit. Some things are worth more, and these companeis are free to pursue them without the hassle of shareholders. Of course, these companies are typically bootstrapped, but still.
- nemothekid 8y ago
  Has Reddit been sold again? Things were arguably better under Condé Nast. once they bought themselves from Condé Nast, they raised VC and all the dreams that go with it

by simias 8y ago

jjoonathan 8y ago

Yep. Breaking in the presence of "software blockers" (lol) so that you add reddit to your exception list is an evil feature, not a bug.

teddyfrozevelt 8y ago
You don’t have to whitelist all of reddit, just gateway.reddit.com. Unless something has changed, this still blocks ads. Blame the filter lists.

ddingus 8y ago

Had Reddit not been sold, it was self sustaining.

simias 8y ago
I don't think being self sustaining is sufficient if you're a web company these days. Shareholders want growth. Execs whose bonuses are indexed on growth want growth. It's always more, more users, more ads, more engagement... Why earn one million when you can earn two? Who cares if you're the new Digg if you could be the new Facebook instead?
- aldoushuxley001 8y ago
  It's easy enough to be a 100% private social media company that isn't solely driven by maximizing profit. Some things are worth more, and these companeis are free to pursue them without the hassle of shareholders. Of course, these companies are typically bootstrapped, but still.
nemothekid 8y ago
Has Reddit been sold again? Things were arguably better under Condé Nast. once they bought themselves from Condé Nast, they raised VC and all the dreams that go with it