Can Reddits switch subs from private to public? (lemmyunchained.net)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by LachlanUnchained@lemmyunchained.net to c/lemmyworld@lemmy.world

31 comments fedilink hide all child comments

With the new Reddit policies, when a sub protests and goes private, could re-edit just step in, oust a moderator and switch it back to public?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] zkikiz@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 year ago

Yes, Reddit has messaged mod teams and pressured them into reopening. So far I don't think there's a case of them forcing their own mod team in to replace striking mods, but it's absolutely on the table.

[-] LachlanUnchained@lemmyunchained.net 4 points 1 year ago

How is being a private sub in breach of their terms?

[-] Otome-chan@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

it isn't in theory. but admins are saying it violates moderator code of conduct by vandalizing a community (which is against reddit rules). Private subs are allowed, but sub squatting and vandalizing are not. theoretically, they could just invite a few people and have a "low activity sub" but still engage as normal while keeping the sub silent. thus no vandalism occurred, nor squatting, but rather just a change in preference of the community (being more private/exclusive).

[-] sneakyninjapants@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

Seems they're spinning it as "If your sub is private you aren't moderating your community. If you aren't going to be an active mod, you are on grounds for dismissal" which is asinine, but it seems to be the way they're playing it.

[-] LachlanUnchained@lemmyunchained.net 2 points 1 year ago

ive never made my subs private, so if its private, people cant interact in the background? i just thought it meant whatever was happening behind the door, wasnt visible to the public?

and if thats the case, what, they are arguing, no you need to keep growing the sub, keep working for free to make us money?

seems like they wouldnt want to pay people to moderate every sub.

[-] Otome-chan@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

private means that only invited people can use the sub. this is allowed per reddit rules. however, the large subs went private not genuinely, but in protest to prevent people from using it. this falls under sub squatting and vandalism meaning a violation of the moderator code of conduct.

Theoretically they could invite some people and use the sub as normal just as a private sub, and they'd follow the rules fine. but that's not what happened.

[-] LachlanUnchained@lemmyunchained.net 1 points 1 year ago

Sonia sun squatting actually referenced in their terms of service?

[-] Otome-chan@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

It's under rule 4 "be active and engaged":

Camping or sitting on a community is not encouraged. If a community has been empty or unmoderated for a significant amount of time, we will consider banning or restricting the community. If a user requests a takeover of a community that falls under either category, we will consider granting that request but will, in nearly all cases, attempt to reach out to the moderator team first to discuss their intentions for the community.

source.

[-] LachlanUnchained@lemmyunchained.net 3 points 1 year ago

A private community is not camped. It is active behind doors.

Is there any communication from Reddit actually saying that’s the basis of taking over subs? Or is it just speculation?

[-] Otome-chan@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

A private community is not camped. It is active behind doors.

Correct, but the protesting subs were not active privately, that's the point. they were shut down. there wasn't activity going on in private.

Is there any communication from Reddit actually saying that’s the basis of taking over subs? Or is it just speculation?

Yes this is what they said in the modmail.

[-] LachlanUnchained@lemmyunchained.net 1 points 1 year ago

Have you got a link to see it?

The subs I was on were active.

Sounds like a bunch of excuses.

[-] Otome-chan@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

see this reddit thread. they've been sending threats/warnings like this to mods about removing higher up mods in order to re-open subs.

[-] sneakyninjapants@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago

forcing their own mod team in to replace striking mods

I don't think it's off the table, but I also don't think they'll have the resources to do that for very long at all or with many subs. Remember they are cutting staff, and having mods working for free en-mass is pretty crucial to their business structure.

[-] NoneOfUrBusiness@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago

True enough, but there are far more people who want to mod than there are subs to mod.

[-] sneakyninjapants@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

I'm sure that's the case as well. I'm not entirely convinced though that whoever would step into the mod role from the community would be suited to the role (on average).

With the number of eyes Reddit has on it every day I see it as being a huge target for malicious actors (read ad-bots, brigadiers, self-promotion, trolls) and as a sub grows it too can become somewhere those actors can post and comment with impunity; and have. I truly think that modding an even relatively popular sub with good tools is time consuming and mentally exhausting work. Take those tools away and it can become a nightmare in a hurry depending on the nature of the issue.

Whether someone from the community can just step into that role is a big dice-roll. They may be either unwilling or unable to keep the subs content on-topic and reign in bad behavior within he sub. Then again they may be perfectly suited to take up the mantle, only time will tell.