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Reddit Founder Says Building Social Media Apps Is ‘Not Cool Anymore’
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian says building social media apps is “not cool anymore”, as he expects online communities to move towards improved group chats. He argues that AI and automated accounts are changing an internet once designed for people, while real-world communities such as sports offer a more human connection.
Ohanian, who left Reddit in 2020 amid pressure for changes to content moderation, now runs venture capital firm Seven Seven Six, with more than $1.3 billion in assets under management. Reddit has licensed its conversations to AI companies, but its shares fell 29 per cent last week after it warned that Google’s AI-powered search was reducing referral traffic. Ohanian supports measures to establish that online users are human, while warning that AI can cause harm and expressing hope for medical advances.
In short
- Ohanian says social media apps are losing their appeal.
- AI is reshaping online communities and platforms.
- Reddit shares fell 29 per cent after a search warning.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Ohanian’s view reflects concern that social platforms are becoming less suited to genuine human connection as AI-generated content and automated accounts grow. Better group chats and stronger ways to verify that users are human could help people build more trusted communities, while real-world groups may offer forms of belonging that large apps cannot.
The case against
Social media apps still connect people at scale, and AI or automated accounts do not necessarily make those spaces less valuable; the effects depend on how platforms manage them. Group chats may feel more personal, but they can be harder to discover and moderate, while social platforms can continue to serve communities that are dispersed or lack easy access to in-person groups.