Reddit to trial access limited to logged-in users overseas
Developing story first seen 4 hours ago
Reddit will begin testing a logged-in-only experience in selected non-US markets in Q4, CEO Steve Huffman told shareholders. The tests will help determine how a wider rollout might work, as the company seeks to build daily use, improve ad targeting and protect its data.
The announcement comes as Reddit’s search referrals have fallen: in October, they dropped by more than one million per week on average. Huffman said the trend could lead daily active unique users to fall by a low double-digit percentage in Q4 from a base of 130 million, after rising 12 per cent year on year in Q3. Reddit reported Q3 revenue of $895 million and net income of $283 million.
- Sources
- 2
- Outlets
- 2
- Left · Centre · Right
- 0 · 0 · 0
In short
- Reddit will test login requirements in selected non-US markets in Q4.
- Search referrals fell by over one million per week on average in October.
- The company reported $895 million in Q3 revenue.
How this story developed
- 1 hour ago Huffman now says Reddit is moving towards a login-only service, citing community discovery and regulatory adaptation alongside engagement, ad data and protection from scraping.
- 2 hours ago Reddit said it would trial a logged-in-only experience in selected non-US markets in Q4 as search referrals fell and the company sought to boost engagement, advertising and data protection.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Requiring sign-in could help Reddit tailor recommendations so people find communities that suit them, while giving the company better tools to limit scraping and meet regulatory requirements. Supporters may also argue that more reliable audience data improves advertising and helps sustain a service whose revenue can fund its development.
The case against
A login requirement could make it harder for casual visitors to read public discussions, reducing access to useful information and weakening Reddit’s reach. Critics may question whether the user benefits justify collecting more data for advertising, and worry that a barrier to entry could reduce participation and community growth.
Explained simply
Reddit is a website where people post and discuss topics in communities called subreddits. Visitors can currently read much of its public content without an account, while logged-in users can join discussions and personalise what they see.
The company is led by chief executive Steve Huffman and makes money largely through advertising. Requiring people to sign in to read more could give Reddit a clearer picture of its audience and make it harder for automated services to copy its posts.
The change could also affect how people discover Reddit through search engines, and how many visit the site. Reddit has said it will test login requirements in some markets before deciding whether to expand them.
Coverage · 2 sources
Art Business Companies Culture Markets
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Ars Technica as “Reddit is moving to “a logged-in-only experience,” CEO says”.