Reddit Stands Back as Users Unite to Challenge X with Subreddit Bans

Reddit is remaining uninvolved in the ongoing protest against social media platform X and, to a reduced extent, Meta, on its site.

Since Tuesday, numerous subreddits have debated and/or enforced bans against the website previously known as Twitter, as reported by 404 Media. Several subreddits have already consented to prohibit the distribution of any links to X, with moderators (volunteer Reddit participants) agreeing to implement the bans.

The movement appeared to initiate among subreddits centered on sports-related subjects, such as the subreddits for the NFL, the Vancouver Canucks NHL team, and the Liverpool Football Club, according to Mashable. However, as of today, subreddits of various genres are talking about X bans. Reddit users advocating for X bans like the one instituted by r/londonontario have suggested various justifications, including the inability to view tweet links without an X account, Elon Musk’s seeming to make a Nazi salute at the presidential inauguration on Monday (as noted by r/Christianity’s and r/newjersey’s bans, for instance), and a general disapproval of Musk and/or his management of X.

Yesterday, the moderators of r/Seahawks, for instance, enacted a policy that prohibits sharing links to X but allows X videos that are not AI-generated, according to a post from one of the subreddit’s moderators yesterday:

… we believe that social media platform owners and investors hold a duty to stay clear of the political, social, and economic media discussions for the benefit and impartiality of their [sic] business and the services they offer. The internet has never been a venue for free speech and it never will be. We are all responsible for the actions we take and the words we say. We trust you all comprehend the intricacies of this decision and continue to converse about Seahawks football.

Reddit won’t interfere

Ars Technica reached out to Reddit seeking a response regarding X bans and whether such bans could be seen as violating any of Reddit’s guidelines. Reddit users will remember that when moderators were recently viewed by Reddit as breaching Reddit rules on a large scale (by making subreddits read-only or private in protest of Reddit’s new API access regulations and costs), Reddit reacted by removing moderators who refused to re-open the protesting subreddits. However, this time, moderators’ actions are transparent.