09:17Machine-translated from Azerbaijani by AIRead in Azerbaijani
Reddit Is Preparing to Require All Users to Log In
Reddit is preparing to require all users to log in to an account. CEO Steve Huffman has announced that the platform will become a service that primarily works only with an account. Currently, users can read posts and comments without creating an account. The rule will be tested in selected markets outside the US in the coming months. It is not yet known when it will be implemented worldwide.
Reddit says the move is intended to show users content that matches their interests. Those who are logged in will see relevant communities, games, and topics more quickly and will also be able to comment and vote. Registration will not require any information beyond what is currently requested. Huffman says Reddit does not want to learn users’ names or true identities, so anonymity will be preserved. The change is also intended to prevent unauthorized, automated data collection. According to Huffman, the vast majority of such access occurs when users browse the site without logging in. At the same time, Reddit will continue data licensing agreements similar to those it signed with OpenAI and Google in 2024. Requiring users to log in will help tailor ads to the communities where they spend time and increase the company’s revenue. It has not yet been determined what content visitors without accounts will be able to see. The home page may remain accessible. Reddit is also considering showing related content to people arriving through shared links and search engines. According to Huffman, people who visit the site only to read a single link are not the main target. The tests will measure ease of use, business results, and the change’s overall impact on the platform. Reddit has also updated the anonymous browsing mode in its mobile app. This mode is read-only, and users will not be able to post, comment, or vote. According to the company, the mode provides private browsing without tracking users’ activity. Earlier this year, Reddit limited access to the simplified “Old Reddit” version to accounts more than 6 months old. It also increased the number of pop-ups on the mobile website prompting users to download the app. The announcement was made alongside Reddit’s Q3 2026 results. During that period, traffic from search declined significantly, with the largest drop occurring among visitors who were not logged in and those using the website. In October, the average weekly decline in referrals from search engines exceeded 1 million. Nevertheless, daily active users who use the app and are logged in generate more than 80 percent of revenue. The announcement was not well received in its first few hours. Although the post received about 200 comments, it remained at 0 upvotes.
Reddit says the move is intended to show users content that matches their interests. Those who are logged in will see relevant communities, games, and topics more quickly and will also be able to comment and vote. Registration will not require any information beyond what is currently requested. Huffman says Reddit does not want to learn users’ names or true identities, so anonymity will be preserved. The change is also intended to prevent unauthorized, automated data collection. According to Huffman, the vast majority of such access occurs when users browse the site without logging in. At the same time, Reddit will continue data licensing agreements similar to those it signed with OpenAI and Google in 2024. Requiring users to log in will help tailor ads to the communities where they spend time and increase the company’s revenue. It has not yet been determined what content visitors without accounts will be able to see. The home page may remain accessible. Reddit is also considering showing related content to people arriving through shared links and search engines. According to Huffman, people who visit the site only to read a single link are not the main target. The tests will measure ease of use, business results, and the change’s overall impact on the platform. Reddit has also updated the anonymous browsing mode in its mobile app. This mode is read-only, and users will not be able to post, comment, or vote. According to the company, the mode provides private browsing without tracking users’ activity. Earlier this year, Reddit limited access to the simplified “Old Reddit” version to accounts more than 6 months old. It also increased the number of pop-ups on the mobile website prompting users to download the app. The announcement was made alongside Reddit’s Q3 2026 results. During that period, traffic from search declined significantly, with the largest drop occurring among visitors who were not logged in and those using the website. In October, the average weekly decline in referrals from search engines exceeded 1 million. Nevertheless, daily active users who use the app and are logged in generate more than 80 percent of revenue. The announcement was not well received in its first few hours. Although the post received about 200 comments, it remained at 0 upvotes.