User accuses Reddit of holding organic posting ‘hostage’ unless he buys ads, shares email screenshot
piunikaweb.com
After a shadowban that even moderators were unable to reverse, a Reddit user was asked to pay for ads to get the ban removed.

Mike Hardaker, who has maintained a Reddit account for 20 years, has been shadow-banned on Reddit. He has posted an update on X, stating that Reddit requires an ad spend to restore organic posting. This demand was given to him in writing.

  • webdoodle@lemmy.mlEnglish
    3·
    9 days ago

    At least they put it in writing. They suspended and deleted all of my 15 years of posts, comments and moderating without even a good by. Fuck Spez, and Fuck Reddit may they reap the whirlwind.

  • adam_y@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    9 days ago

    I found out today that they have removed r/all from the mobile platforms.

    The one unifying feed… Heaven for it folk experience consensus media or have a shared experience.

    By slicing it all up they can tweak individual algorithms to push more jank than ever. No longer do they have to game the system to get AstroTurfed Ads on the front page.

    Actually, didn’t they used to call themselves the “front page of the internet”? How does that work if no one sees the same page?

    • lastlybutfirstly@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      9 days ago

      I think most people unsubscribe from r/all anyway and subscribe to subs related to their favorite hobbies and games and work related info. Most of my frontpage is for video games I’m currently playing, programs I’m currently using and odd fun subs like moviemistakes or maybemaybemaybe. I wish I could do that here.

      • adam_y@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        9 days ago

        And that’s all cool… But it is weird to take that choice away from users.

        Much like here, a quick browse of all introduces me to a wider world with different concerns. It’s how I find stuff.

        And I’m pretty sure what you do is possible here… What are you having a problem with?

  • comador @lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    10 days ago

    First mistake: Staying on Reddit. Fuck Spez.

    Second mistake: Complaining about Reddit on X. Fuck Musk.

    Let’s just hope this user stays away from substack next.

  • tidderuuf@lemmy.worldEnglish
    01·
    10 days ago

    So let me get this straight. Some jerk off looking to advertise his site by spamming links on several subs was hoping to AstroTurf COUGH I mean organically post… And Reddit Ad Team saw that and figured they could milk him for some dollars? So this doucher takes to Xhitter to try to get sympathy?

    Ahh capitalism at its finest.

    • 🌞 Alexander Daychilde 🌞@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      10 days ago

      wut

      Unless the article is absolutely lying, it mentioned the subreddits wanted the posts and couldn’t overcome the sitewide ban (i.e. manually approving the content). Your comment is a really huge stretch there.

      • tidderuuf@lemmy.worldEnglish
        01·
        10 days ago

        Hardaker is the operator of Mountain Weekly News, and he regularly used to contribute to three or four subreddits

        So I am going to stop right there and ignore any conceivably ingenious reply you may come up with to justify and spin what the dude is actually doing. Spend enough time on Reddit like the grownups around here and you’ll eventually understand.

        • 🌞 Alexander Daychilde 🌞@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          10 days ago

          Listen, kid, I’ve been on reddit since 2009. I hung out with the admins in IRC back in the day. I was a default mod for a while, and I’m the “father” of /r/nottheonion.

          There’s plenty I don’t know about reddit and life in general, but on this topic, clearly I know a fuck ton more than you.

          There was a time on reddit when self-promotion was against the rules. That rule was dropped something like a decade ago.

          The simple fact is that - from at least the article’s telling - the subreddits wanted the content, and in that case, it is absolutely fine and encouraged for someone to submit.

          There’s a guy making youtube reviews of restaurants in my local city’s subreddit. The content is popular - people like it. So we absolutely are happy to see him post. Is it self-promotion? Yes, technically. It’s also relevant to the subreddit and desired by the mods and members of the subreddit.

          You’re like the people saying “dis a repost” when someone CROSS-posts. Note that reddit has a BUILT IN SYSTEM for cross-posting, but there are redditors who don’t know that.

          So, little boy, you can take your condescension and /r/confidentlyincorrect along with /r/iamverysmart and fucking LEARN something, or go off and continue to be willfully ignorant.

          Disclaimer: If the article’s reporting is incorrect and the subreddits considered it spam, well, that’s not what the article said, and I don’t otherwise have other knowledge of it, nor do I care enough to google for any other possible sources. But that’s the informatio you’re working off of as well, so there’s that.

          PS: To add a light-hearted end: I’ll go to /r/dontyouknowwhoiam now :) (that name seems too long. Is that the right one/ Well, you probably know what I mean and I’m too lazy to look it up :P )