Technology

Beyond the Front Page of the Internet

Hi everyone,

The end of the year is as good a time as any for reflection, and lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes Reddit special.

When we started this site 20 years ago (AKA Very, Very Old Reddit), the goal was pretty simple: create a space where people could talk about interesting things they found on the internet. What began as an alternative to traditional media came into its own as an alternative to social media, and now that AI is everywhere, our aim is to keep Reddit the most human place on the internet. No matter what platforms or technology are trending, we’ve always strived to be a more authentic antidote.

Over the years, Reddit’s been stereotyped in all sorts of ways: shaving-challenged basement dwellers, keyboard warriors with too much time on their hands, or—more accurately—the funniest, most interesting, and helpful people on the internet. Take your pick. I’ve never liked the idea of a Reddit hivemind or archetype because Reddit’s not one thing. It never has been. Though I admit it’s always had a certain vibe, today even that is entirely dependent on which subreddits you hang out in.

For a long while, we were known as the “front page of the internet,” but we’ve outgrown a singular front page for everyone. You have different interests than I do, and your Reddit should look different from mine. And from your neighbor’s, or your coworker’s, or your best friend’s. Whether you’re in a community of fellow first-time parents, aspiring solo travelers, fans of your favorite reality show, or people who run ultra-marathons, Reddit is home to all of it. 

Which brings us to r/popular, the default feed for new users. In theory, it’s what’s most popular on Reddit, but it’s actually what is liked by the most active users on Reddit—which is not the same thing. Having it as a default feed gives the false impression of a singular Reddit culture, one that is neither representative of Reddit nor appealing to new users (or anyone at all, IMO). Which is why, in the near future, we'll stop showing it to new users, and unless you read it regularly, we’ll remove it from the core group of feeds in the app. 

Said more directly: r/popular sucks, and we’re moving away from it, and towards better, more relevant and personalized feeds.

We’re one platform, yes, but with many minds (at least more than one). One of my favorite aspects of Reddit is that every community has its own culture, rules, and sense (or lack) of humor. We are a constantly evolving ecosystem where anyone, anywhere, can connect on almost any topic or belief. And if your perspective isn’t represented, you can create the community you want to see. The freedom to build your own corner of the internet is what makes Reddit, Reddit.

On Reddit, no strongly held worldview exists unchallenged. For every earnest subreddit, there is a vibrant and more funny circlejerk counterpart lurking in the shadows. That balance—and sometimes tension—reflects how the world actually is.

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More people are visiting Reddit than ever before—116 million every day. And when I look at the top-visited communities, it’s not surprising to see that they are (mostly) coming here to laugh, ask questions, judge, and generally be entertained.

Top 20 SFW subreddits by weekly active visitors, as of November 20, 2025.

Reddit thrives when its communities are unique. That’s why we empower them to make their own rules (on top of ours) and grow the way they want to. But distinct communities require distinct leaders. A situation where someone moderates an unlimited number of massive communities is not that, which is why we’re making a few changes.

Namely, we’re limiting the number of high-traffic communities any single person can moderate. This is a major shift with a lot of nuance, so we're not rushing. We’re focused on helping all affected mods and communities through the transition, which you can read about in detail here.

Relatedly, you may have noticed that we updated how we display community size. We switched from Subscribers—which was really just a measure of age—to Weekly Visitors to reflect actual activity. (And if you really miss subscribers, you can add them back with this devvit app.)

These changes are all part of the same goal: making Reddit more conducive to how people actually use it today.

Reddit is for everyone because it’s built by everyone. We’re a vibrant city of coffee shops, nightclubs, arenas, and yes, a few weird basements (neckbeard not required). Sure, you can come here to argue, but like in real life, most people come here to connect. We want to help you do more of that.

Thank you to all of you who make Reddit what it is and what it can be next.

See you next year,

u/spez