Reddit recently shut down several subreddits following a policy update banning content that “encourages, glorifies, incites, or calls for violence or physical harm against an individual or a group of people.”
The update also bans content that “glorifies or encourages” animal abuse. Commenters soon took note that several subreddits had been shut down, including r/NationalSocialism, r/Nazi, and r/DylannRoofInnocent. In addition, multiple subreddits relating to bestiality or animal abuse were also shut down.
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In a post on a moderator’s thread on the site, a Reddit administrator notes that certain caveats may apply including newsworthy, satirical or educational content.
“We understand that enforcing this policy may often require subjective judgment, so all of the usual caveats apply with regard to content that is newsworthy, artistic, educational, satirical, etc, as mentioned in the policy. Context is key. The policy is posted in the help center here,” said the statement.
The administrator, posting under the username Landoflobsters, ended their post by letting the forum know that Reddit CEO Steve Huffman would be taking questions on the site’s main announcement board next week.
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Tech news website The Verge writes that this move is a bit of a break for the Internet company, which has avoided banning any content that wasn’t strictly illegal until 2015, when it began removing what The Verge calls “hate-oriented boards.”
BBC adds that its policy was updated at this time to curb harassment on the site, though Reddit has become somewhat known for allowing content that would normally be banned on other sites.