Reddit - Policy Change
Executive Summary
Under CEO Ellen Pao, Reddit banned five subreddits for fostering harassment, including r/FatPeopleHate (150,000+ subscribers), r/hamplanethatred, r/neofag, r/transfags, and r/shitniggerssay. This marked the first time Reddit enforced a harassment-based content policy at scale. The action triggered massive user backlash, with Pao herself becoming a target of harassment and a change.org petition demanding her resignation.
What Happened
In June 2015, Reddit banned five subreddits including r/FatPeopleHate, which had over 150,000 subscribers, along with r/hamplanethatred, r/neofag, r/transfags, and r/shitniggerssay for fostering harassment. This represented the first time Reddit enforced a harassment-based content policy at this scale under CEO Ellen Pao. The action triggered significant user backlash, with a change.org petition demanding Pao's resignation and Pao herself becoming a target of harassment.
Who Is Affected
The ban directly affected members and moderators of the five banned subreddits, particularly the 150,000+ subscribers of r/FatPeopleHate. Ellen Pao became a target of harassment following the policy enforcement. The broader Reddit user base was affected by the introduction of harassment-based content moderation at scale.
Why It Matters
This event marked the first large-scale enforcement of harassment policies on Reddit, setting a precedent for content moderation on the platform. The controversy highlighted tensions between free speech expectations and content policies on user-driven platforms. The backlash against Pao sparked broader debates about the treatment of women in technology and the need for transparency in companies relying on volunteer communities.
Summary generated from verified sources and reviewed before publication. How we summarize.
Sources