Reports suggest that Elon Musk privately urged Reddit CEO Steve Huffman to take action regarding content moderation, particularly concerning subreddits that restricted links to X (formerly Twitter) and those targeting employees of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Musk’s Alleged Influence on Reddit Moderation
According to The Verge, Musk contacted Huffman following his public criticism of Reddit on X, where he called it “insane” that certain communities were blocking X links. Musk also argued that Reddit users advocating violence against DOGE staff had violated the law.
Following their private exchange, Reddit implemented a 72-hour ban on the WhitePeopleTwitter subreddit, citing a “prevalence of violent content.” Additionally, the thread Musk had highlighted was removed, along with hundreds of comments, some of which were unrelated to violence.
Reddit Responds to the Controversy
Reddit spokesperson Gina Antonini addressed the situation, stating:
“We take all reports of policy violations seriously, whether received directly through Reddit or via public and private channels. Any reported content will be reviewed, and action will be taken if it breaches our policies.”
Despite this response, Musk did not provide a comment to The Verge regarding the matter.
Reddit Moderators Express Concerns
The revelation of Musk’s private communications with Huffman quickly spread among Reddit moderators, leading to discussions in a Discord chat. Screenshots from these discussions showed mixed reactions—while some were frustrated by Musk’s ability to influence the platform, others acknowledged that removing violent content was necessary.
“Musk should not have the power to influence Reddit decisions, but if the posts contained death threats, they absolutely needed to be removed,” one moderator remarked.
Others, however, voiced concerns over Musk’s broader ability to exert pressure on both public and private platforms.
Musk’s History of Restricting External Links
Since acquiring X, Musk has taken strict measures against competing social media platforms. Last month, his company banned certain external URLs, limiting users’ ability to share links from rival platforms.
While Reddit has not yet intervened in moderator-led decisions to block X links, this incident raises serious questions about external interference in content moderation policies.
FAQs
- What did Elon Musk ask Reddit’s CEO to do?
- Musk reportedly urged Steve Huffman to act against subreddits that restricted X links and targeted DOGE employees.
- How did Reddit respond to Musk’s concerns?
- Shortly after their conversation, Reddit banned the WhitePeopleTwitter subreddit for 72 hours due to violent content and removed a controversial thread along with hundreds of comments.
- Did Musk publicly criticize Reddit?
- Yes, Musk called it “insane” on X that certain subreddits were blocking links to his platform.
- What was the reaction of Reddit moderators?
- Some moderators expressed concerns over Musk’s influence, while others acknowledged that content containing death threats needed to be removed.
- Has Musk restricted external links before?
- Yes, Musk’s X platform has previously banned certain external URLs, limiting links to competing social media sites.
