Reddit enfrenta controversia con moderadores ¿Qué sucede ahora?
In the ever-evolving landscape of online communities, Reddit has recently ignited a new controversy concerning its moderators. Following a period of relative tranquility, the platform has proposed changes that impose restrictions on the mods of its largest communities. This development is sparking mixed reactions among users and promises to be a hot topic in the months to come.
But what exactly is happening? In this article, we will unpack the recent changes Reddit announced and explore their implications in a straightforward manner. Understanding the factors behind this new clash between Reddit and its moderators is essential as we delve into the issue.
Last week, Reddit announced a "restructuring of moderation boundaries." Essentially, the platform stated that subreddits will no longer measure their size or popularity based on member count. Instead, this metric will be replaced by the number of unique visitors a subreddit receives.
This new metric will track unique visitors over the past seven days, using a 28-day moving average and excluding anonymous browsers and bots. Consequently, once the changes take effect, communities will display "X visitors" rather than "X members." Additionally, each subreddit will now show its weekly contribution figures. Understanding these changes is crucial to grasping the ongoing controversy surrounding Reddit and its moderators.
Reddit will limit the number of large communities that moderators can control
The core of this story lies in Reddit's decision to limit the number of large subreddits that moderators can oversee. Specifically, mods will not be able to manage more than five communities with over 100,000 unique visitors each. Communities below this threshold will not be affected by the new rules.
Moderators who exceed the allowed limits will be required to leave some of their communities to comply with the new guidelines. Reddit maintains that this change will not happen overnight but will be implemented gradually over the coming months. The final enforcement of these regulations is set for the second quarter of 2026. However, the controversy is already brewing.
In terms of deadlines, Reddit has stated that starting on December 1, moderators managing more than five subreddits with over 100,000 visitors will not be able to accept new moderation invitations for communities of that size.
Between January and March 2026, mods will need to choose from a variety of options to adapt to the new limits. These options include:
- Leaving some communities
- Transitioning to advisory roles with read-only moderation permissions
- Applying for alumni status in a subreddit, which does not confer moderation privileges but recognizes prior contributions
Reddit has indicated that it is working on an exception request process; however, the criteria for granting exceptions remain unclear.
The next significant milestone will occur on March 31, 2026. From that date onward, all users will be able to accept invitations to moderate up to five subreddits with over 100,000 visitors each. The most controversial aspect of this change is that the platform will revoke moderator roles from those who do not comply with the new rules. According to the site, they will remove privileges from communities where moderators are less active until their profiles align with the new requirements.
Mixed responses to the new measures among moderators
According to Reddit, the new regulations will affect only 0.1% of active moderators. Nevertheless, the situation is already causing an uproar, as some mods view it as an attempt by the platform to exert greater control over its most prominent subreddits.
Interestingly, reactions within the moderator community have been mixed. Ars Technica spoke with several who oppose the new rules. Many see it as a detrimental decision that will leave numerous subreddits isolated and devoid of experienced mods. They perceive this as a form of "retribution" from Reddit for the moderators who protested against API pricing changes in 2023.
It is also essential to recall the scandal that previously embroiled Reddit, where the platform allegedly attempted to reopen closed subreddits. The company allegedly encouraged lesser-ranked moderators to report their superiors in a bid to oust them. Since then, the relationship between mods and the platform has remained strained. Additionally, last year saw the introduction of changes aimed at making it nearly impossible for new boycotts to occur.
However, as previously noted, not all moderators view Reddit's limits negatively. Some believe that this new approach could help mitigate the influence of mods who control dozens or even hundreds of subreddits without contributing valuable content.
The situation is set to remain a hot topic over the coming months, especially as Reddit begins to enact its rules and remove moderators from certain subreddits. The community will undoubtedly be watching for updates as this story unfolds.
To better understand the implications of these changes, check out this insightful video that explores the reactions from moderators and users alike:
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