Reddit Launches ‘Video Reddit’ Experience for Viral Stories
Reddit has announced the testing of a new “video Reddit” experience that will allow users to listen to viral posts while engaging in other activities. The initial trial begins on Monday, focusing on both video and audio formats within select communities to determine user engagement with these new content types.
The initiative was first revealed during Reddit’s second-quarter earnings call in July by CEO Steve Huffman, who noted that users were already experiencing similar content on other social media platforms, such as TikTok and Meta’s Reels. These platforms often feature Reddit stories narrated via text-to-speech technology or by content creators, sometimes displaying the text on screen or pairing the narration with unrelated visuals.
“There is an emerging content type elsewhere on the internet of, basically, podcasts where people read Reddit content,” Huffman stated during the call, adding that he sees this audio or spoken format as potentially engaging for users.
According to Reddit, the early tests are meant to provide insights into how these new formats can enhance user experience while remaining true to the platform’s identity. Users will have the option to “read” or “play” a post when available, catering to different preferences.
The testing will primarily focus on select English-language posts and will be accessible through Reddit’s iOS and Android applications. Importantly, these new audio and video formats will not replace traditional text-only posts, which will continue to be viewable and interactive. Reddit anticipates that some users may prefer listening to content during activities like exercising or running errands, while others might enjoy a combined audiovisual experience.
This trial is not Reddit’s first foray into the realm of video content. Previously, the company implemented native video hosting and explored variations of a TikTok-style video feed. Recently, Reddit also enabled video within comments, which now comprises over 10% of video posts on the platform.
