In the early days, Reddit was touted as a free speech platform (sound familiar?) yet it was always designed to be an echo chamber, and changes to the product up

In the early days, Reddit was touted as a free speech platform (sound familiar?) yet it was always designed to be an echo chamber, and changes to the product up to this point have only ever served that end. The mechanics of upvote/downvote, in collaboration with activist admins & moderators, ensures that comments which oppose the current group think are hidden, while comments that re-enforce the group-think (even if it is plainly false) are elevated and treated as canon. The result is that opposing view points are drowned out and then stop all together when those with opposing view points realize the futility. To the outside observer, it would appear that the group think is the real world, when in reality, it is not. This is by design and it is not accidental. Given the politics of reddit staff (which closely match twitter staff) one can see the common thread among these companies and why so many people believe the gaming is by design (because it is.) Reddit is an unmitigated cesspool of mostly 20-somethings who have accomplished very little, but seemingly know everything. It is one giant cluster-** of propaganda save for a handful of subreddits that are actually sane places with great ideas and content.