Many are raising their concerns on the famed social news aggregator website after more than a month since Reddit changed its API policies and saw a massive fallout on the platform. The question now remains, "Is Reddit still a Trustworthy source?" especially as the renowned mods for each subreddit that revolted against the company were removed.
With the moderators, which were deemed experts or verified sources for subreddits removed, concerns are now raised on their replacements, as well as the content that passes by the platform each day.
Reddit's Mod Removals Cause Concern on its Content Quality
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Ars Technica reported a concerning situation on Reddit now, especially as many question the platform's current operations with the new mods donning the responsibility for each subreddit. As per the report, Reddit has been a trove of information with trustworthy moderators helping filter content and verify its legitimacy, but in the likes of the r/canning subreddit, concerns are raised.
The subreddit r/canning had moderators who held science-related Master's Degrees, one with Brad Barclay and a Redditor named u/Dromio05. This specific subreddit is a forum for those who can eat foods of their own, and without the proper guidance, it could become toxic and harmful to those who consume it.
Barclay claimed that the new moderators of this subreddit had shown a lack of expertise in canning, with Reddit not carefully selecting or trained by the platform to be right for the job.
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Is Reddit Still a Trustworthy Source After Fallout?
The r/canning subreddit is only one of the thousand communities that had their trustworthy moderators removed after the API changes and its protests. This also means that the concerns for Redditor safety are not confined to this subreddit only.
With the massive changes on Reddit after its "Great Mods purge," many are now questioning its integrity, and whether it is still trustworthy to be a source for Redditors' needs and concerns.
Reddit's Massive Mod Purge and API Changes
The hottest and latest issue to befall Reddit's lap was its recent API change, one which its CEO, Steve Huffman, has sternly defended, a venture that will keep the platform a "self-sustaining business." Reddit remained firm on its decision to name a price for its API access, and massive apps like Apollo, which used its API for free have already shut down.
Massive protests took place on Reddit, with different moderators and subreddits going dark on the platform to make their voices heard and recognized by the company.
Moderators also took it upon themselves to allow NSFW content on different Safe For Work subreddits on the platform, with Reddit taking proactive action by removing them from their posts.
This massive overhaul and clean-up of Reddit is still felt now, especially for subreddits that were rid of their original moderators, with new ones continuing the work but operating differently. The recent issue on Reddit now is its integrity and content quality, with the previous mods and Redditors citing safety concerns about what is posted online and unsafe information remaining on the platform.
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