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I've said it before and I'll say it again... I think building better search goes against everything Reddit wants to be. Reddit doesn't want to be Google or Wiki

I've said it before and I'll say it again... I think building better search goes against everything Reddit wants to be. Reddit doesn't want to be Google or Wikipedia. Reddit wants to be a mix between Discord, TikTok, and Instagram. The redesign they did years ago pushed a more Instagram like design. Things like chat and rPan are meant to keep you on the site interacting with other users in real time. Their new video player is just a TikTok rip off. They give away awards every day and started pushing award karma in hopes that you'll give them to other users. Reddit wants you on their site, interacting with other users in real time and building a better search goes against that goal. If I'm looking for a new pair of boots, there's two paths I can take on the reddit site. I can search "best boots" or I can go make a post on /r/boots. If their search is fantastic and I find a post that's 2 years old, there may be some great information there, but I'm probably not going to comment. Even if I do comment, I'm probably not going to get a lot of responses. If their search is shit (intentionally or unintentionally) it pushes me toward making my own post and drives up their engagement metrics. It would be a massive undertaking to improve their search and there's very little incentive. Reddit wants users who just want to browse and that's not what the users coming in from a specific Google search are doing.

thematrixturtle 5y ago
There is massive incentive, since Google earns over $50B per quarter selling ads to people who want to buy stuff. Targeting these queries effectively would be hugely more valuable than my current ad selection of increasingly desperate shitcoin/NFT shilling and pleas to buy Reddit gold.
- nefitty 5y ago
  It would be even more amazing if ads were stuck exclusively on search result pages. That would minimize the interruption while maximizing the reevance of targeted ads, with minimal tracking needs.
- superfrank 5y ago
  I disagree. Reddit already has more than enough information to effectively target users. Just because they aren't doing it well right now, doesn't mean they need a new approach. The subreddits you spend your time on is basically just you classifying your interests for Reddit. I'd argue that knowing that someone spends 1-2 hours a day scrolling through hiking subreddits is just as much of an indicator of their interests that any combination of Google searches. Reddit basically has access to all the information that Google ties to get through 3rd party cookies, except they get it way easier since you're never leaving their platform. They know where you're going, how long you're there, and even if you like or dislike the content (upvotes and downvotes). I'm sure their targeting could be improved with search, but like I said in my first post, I think that's a lot of effort for a small improvement.

thematrixturtle 5y ago

There is massive incentive, since Google earns over $50B per quarter selling ads to people who want to buy stuff. Targeting these queries effectively would be hugely more valuable than my current ad selection of increasingly desperate shitcoin/NFT shilling and pleas to buy Reddit gold.

nefitty 5y ago
It would be even more amazing if ads were stuck exclusively on search result pages. That would minimize the interruption while maximizing the reevance of targeted ads, with minimal tracking needs.
superfrank 5y ago
I disagree. Reddit already has more than enough information to effectively target users. Just because they aren't doing it well right now, doesn't mean they need a new approach. The subreddits you spend your time on is basically just you classifying your interests for Reddit. I'd argue that knowing that someone spends 1-2 hours a day scrolling through hiking subreddits is just as much of an indicator of their interests that any combination of Google searches. Reddit basically has access to all the information that Google ties to get through 3rd party cookies, except they get it way easier since you're never leaving their platform. They know where you're going, how long you're there, and even if you like or dislike the content (upvotes and downvotes). I'm sure their targeting could be improved with search, but like I said in my first post, I think that's a lot of effort for a small improvement.