Re:The demise of r/science AMAs on Reddit
by snowwrestler on Wednesday May 23, 2018 @02:50PM
(#17136951)
Reddit central admins have screwed up in several ways here.
1) Subreddit moderators know better than central HQ about their audiences and the best content. Reddit central HQ has statistical engagement data, but that easily leads to temporary optimums. Digg is the Class A example of how using stats to make decisions works really great right up to the moment it really doesn't.
A human focus on quality and relevance helps avoid that, and the subreddit moderators are in the best position to provide that. That's why Reddit created subreddits in the first place!
2) Reddit's algorithm stuck popular crappy posts to the top of subreddits for too long and did not give subreddit moderators the tools they needed to deal with that. So, duh, moderators had to figure out a way to work around that. Then they got in trouble for the work-around. But it all goes back to problems with the algorithm and tools.
Reddit's interace and algorithm does not properly distinguish between "ha, that's funny"(upvote) and "wow, this is amazing and deeply affecting"(upvote). Subredditors can do this if you let them.
3) In case Reddit leaders (and readers here) have not noticed, we are in early in a sea-change in how culture perceives and interacts with social media platforms. It's no longer enough to standup an algorithm and let the chips fall where they may. That will get you testifying before Congress and dealing with the FBI before long. If Reddit wants to play in the big leagues of social media, they need to start looking more than a few feet in front of them.
Reddit has a huge advantage over Facebook and Twitter in that they have developed an army of unpaid moderators who can feed quality on their platform. What's the first thing anyone says about joining Reddit? "It's all about finding the best subreddits for you." Not "wow what a great feed algorithm, in general."
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In short: the absolute heart of Reddit's value proposition is the subreddit moderators, and that will only become more true in the future.
1) Subreddit moderators know better than central HQ about their audiences and the best content. Reddit central HQ has statistical engagement data, but that easily leads to temporary optimums. Digg is the Class A example of how using stats to make decisions works really great right up to the moment it really doesn't.
A human focus on quality and relevance helps avoid that, and the subreddit moderators are in the best position to provide that. That's why Reddit created subreddits in the first place!
2) Reddit's algorithm stuck popular crappy posts to the top of subreddits for too long and did not give subreddit moderators the tools they needed to deal with that. So, duh, moderators had to figure out a way to work around that. Then they got in trouble for the work-around. But it all goes back to problems with the algorithm and tools.
Reddit's interace and algorithm does not properly distinguish between "ha, that's funny"(upvote) and "wow, this is amazing and deeply affecting"(upvote). Subredditors can do this if you let them.
3) In case Reddit leaders (and readers here) have not noticed, we are in early in a sea-change in how culture perceives and interacts with social media platforms. It's no longer enough to standup an algorithm and let the chips fall where they may. That will get you testifying before Congress and dealing with the FBI before long. If Reddit wants to play in the big leagues of social media, they need to start looking more than a few feet in front of them.
Reddit has a huge advantage over Facebook and Twitter in that they have developed an army of unpaid moderators who can feed quality on their platform. What's the first thing anyone says about joining Reddit? "It's all about finding the best subreddits for you." Not "wow what a great feed algorithm, in general."
----
In short: the absolute heart of Reddit's value proposition is the subreddit moderators, and that will only become more true in the future.