Reddit is implementing new rules aimed at preventing moderators from unilaterally changing community settings, a move that may reshape how communities are managed on the platform.
In an official announcement, the company’s VP of community disclosed that moderators will now be required to submit requests to change Community Type settings, rather than being able to make changes independently. This adjustment is designed to enhance oversight and maintain the intended accessibility of various subreddits.
Community Type settings dictate a subreddit’s visibility, ranging from public to restricted or private, as well as its content classification as safe for work (SFW) or not safe for work (NSFW). These settings are critical in managing access and content within communities.
Officials highlighted that when a once-public community shifts to private, all users, including existing members, lose access to its content. This shift aims to uphold user trust and ensure that public communities remain accessible.
Addressing Community Concerns
The new rules come in the wake of significant protests from Reddit users in June 2023, when a multitude of communities transitioned from public to private or restricted as a response to changes in the platform’s API policies. The introduction of charges for previously free API access led to the closure of several notable Reddit-based applications.
In response to these protests, Reddit had to intervene by taking over some larger subreddits to restore community access. The change in policy regarding moderator actions appears to be a direct response to the challenges posed by past protests, allowing for tighter control over community dynamics.
Moderators, who are often unpaid volunteers, will now seek approval from Reddit employees for any changes to their subreddit’s settings. This process is intended to prevent communities from becoming isolated and to safeguard their content from unwanted disruptions.
Under the new framework, moderators can submit their requests at any time and expect responses within a 24-hour period. Subreddits with fewer than 5,000 members or those under 30 days old will automatically have their requests approved.
Additionally, moderators maintain the ability to impose temporary restrictions on posts or comments during sudden traffic spikes without prior approval. However, these restrictions under the Temporary Events policy can only remain in place for up to seven days.
While the move is designed to enhance community management, it remains to be seen how moderators will react to the loss of previously held control over community settings.
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