Reddit is killing its Gold awards system

After triggering protests over its API modifications, Reddit is making one other change that’s angering its customers, as the corporate introduced that it’s sunsetting its cash and awards system. Though the platform says it’s engaged on a brand new rewards system, it hasn’t supplied any particulars about when it might launch. Up to now, customers have been capable of buy Reddit Cash and spend them on awards for others.

Reddit says customers will now not be capable to buy new cash beginning in the present day. All awards and current cash will proceed to be obtainable till September 12, 2023.

In a blog post, Reddit stated it’s making this variation so as to make its platform less complicated. The corporate says it has heard that customers don’t admire the “muddle from awards and all of the steps that go into really awarding content material.” Because of this, it’s working to overtake how rewards work on its platform, however didn’t present specifics about what the brand new system might appear like.

“It’s turn into clear that awards and cash as they exist in the present day should be re-thought, and the present system sunsetted,” the corporate wrote. “Rewarding content material and contribution (in addition to one thing golden) will nonetheless be a core a part of Reddit. We’ll share extra within the coming months as to what this new future appears to be like like.”

For context, the Reddit neighborhood would use cash and awards in numerous methods to acknowledge good contributions from different members. You possibly can see awards as little icons on posts on the platform. Reddit first launched Reddit Gold, which then developed, as Reddit launched new awards together with Reddit Silver, Platinum, Ternium and Argentium. There are presently greater than 50 forms of awards on the platform.

Reddit says it can share extra a couple of “new route for awarding that permits redditors to empower each other and create extra significant methods to reward high-quality contributions on Reddit” within the coming months. The objective behind the overhaul is to create a system that’s easy, straightforward to make use of and simple to grasp, the corporate says.

The corporate’s resolution to sundown its present rewards system earlier than launching the revamped one has left users upset, because it leaves the platform with no rewards system in place.

“Killing options with out replacements prepared, yep feels like Reddit to me,” one user wrote underneath the corporate’s announcement submit. “In different phrases, you’re eradicating a well-liked function and charging the identical quantity for premium,” one other consumer wrote.

Reddit’s newest announcement comes because it has been dealing with ongoing backlash for its resolution to start out charging builders for entry to its API. The change sparked protests from a number of subreddits and moderators. Reddit CEO Steve Huffman has constantly defended the corporate’s resolution over the previous month. Reddit appears to be adamant about its resolution, and new modifications to the API pricing construction appear unlikely.