Watch: Reddit's IPO success may hinge on AI boom
TechCrunchMAR 2024
Reddit Goes Public, Lists Shares on New York Stock Exchange
Image copyright: Spencer Platt/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images North America
The Spin
Narrative A
For nearly two decades, Reddit has been home to millions of people seeking open information and discussion about any and all topics imaginable. However, all of that could change as Reddit goes public and faces the threat of becoming like all other corporatized social media companies. While there's a need for some content moderation, it's easy to envision Reddit overloading on censorship to appease shareholders and regulators. If that happens, the beloved platform will become no different from its over-sanitized competitors.
Narrative B
Reddit has reached a new status as a company with its IPO, as it goes from a platform of misinformation and vulgarity to a multibillion-dollar tech giant. However, Reddit finally decided to clean up its website and purge forums of overt racism and misogyny, and the results speak for themselves. By moderating inappropriate and hateful content, Reddit was able to attract more users and — more importantly — investors. Reddit's success shows the importance of content moderation, and more companies should follow suit.