Reddit Introduces Profile Curation Features

Reddit has announced a significant update that allows users to selectively “curate” their public-facing profiles by managing their posting and commenting activity from other users by hiding. This marks a notable shift in how user activity is displayed on the platform.

Changes to User Profiles

Historically, Reddit profiles displayed a user’s complete commenting and posting history. While many users maintain anonymity, others could easily view their post history and identify the communities they engage with. This transparency has been a crucial aspect of Reddit’s culture, enabling users to identify trolling, misinformation, and other undesirable behaviors on the platform merely embarrassing.

With the new update, Reddit users will gain the ability to curate their profiles. This feature will enable individuals to hide all public posts and comments or selectively hide activity from specific subreddits. Additionally, there is a “NSFW” toggle that allows users to conceal posts and comments from NSFW subreddits. It is important to note that while these settings will hide content from a user’s profile, the posts and comments will still be visible within the original subreddit.

Implications for Moderators

Reddit has indicated that there will be exceptions to these new settings for moderators. Moderators may need access to a user’s past activity to identify rule-breakers or determine eligibility for community membership. According to Reddit’s FAQ, “If you post, comment, send modmail, request to be an approved poster, or request to join a private subreddit, that mod team will have access to your full profile content history for 28 days after the interaction – regardless of your settings.” This provision aims to maintain the integrity of subreddit communities.

User Reactions

Despite the added control over profile visibility, many Reddit users have expressed concerns regarding the potential impact of these changes on the platform’s dynamics. One of the most-upvoted comments on Reddit’s announcement stated, “This seems like it’s going to lead to bad actors being able to more easily hide their behavior from the average user.” This sentiment reflects worries that users may now obscure inflammatory or misleading content across multiple subreddits.

Furthermore, some users have pointed out that the new curation feature may reduce the necessity of creating alternative or throwaway accounts. By allowing users to hide unwanted posts, it becomes easier to manage their online presence. However, this convenience raises questions about Reddit’s approach to account creation. During a recent earnings call, CEO Steve Huffman mentioned that Reddit is considering ways to “evolve” its “historically permissive account creation” process. While he did not provide specific details, he indicated that changes would be necessary to combat AI-driven abuse or manipulation of the platform suggested.

Conclusion

The introduction of profile curation on Reddit represents a significant shift in user control over personal content visibility. While it offers users more privacy and flexibility, it also raises important questions about accountability and the potential for misuse. As Reddit navigates these changes, the community’s response will likely shape the platform’s future direction.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at Engadget.