Reddit’s CEO says r/popular ‘sucks,’ and it’s going away | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessCreatorsMobilePolicySecurityTransportationReviewsExpandLaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTabletsSmart HomeSmartwatchesSpeakersDronesScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthEntertainmentExpandGamesTV ShowsMoviesAudioAIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee All ShoppingCarsExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersOther TransportationFeaturesVideosExpandYouTubeTikTokInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Reddit’s CEO says r/popular ‘sucks,’ and it’s going awayComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechRedditCloseRedditPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All RedditReddit’s CEO says r/popular ‘sucks,’ and it’s going awayReddit is also limiting how many popular communities one person can moderate, and pushing more personalized feeds.Reddit is also limiting how many popular communities one person can moderate, and pushing more personalized feeds.by Jay PetersCloseJay PetersSenior ReporterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jay PetersDec 3, 2025, 9:20 PM UTCLinkShareReddit CEO Steve Huffman. Getty ImagesJay PetersCloseJay PetersPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jay Peters is a senior reporter covering technology, gaming, and more. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme.Reddit is “moving away” from r/popular, the default feed for new users, and plans to replace it with “better, more relevant and personalized feeds,” according to CEO Steve Huffman (aka Spez). Huffman also notes that r/popular “sucks.”“For a long while, we were known as the ‘front page of the internet,’ but we’ve outgrown a singular front page for everyone,” Huffman says. “You have different interests than I do, and your Reddit should look different from mine. And from your neighbor’s, or your coworker’s, or your best friend’s.”Regarding r/popular, he says that “in theory, it’s what’s most popular on Reddit, but it’s actually what is liked by the most active users on Reddit—which is not the same thing. Having it as a default feed gives the false impression of a singular Reddit culture, one that is neither representative of Reddit nor appealing to new users (or anyone at all, IMO).” So, in the “near future,” Reddit is going to “stop showing it to new users, and unless you read it regularly, we’ll remove it from the core group of feeds in the app.”The changes to r/popular will start showing up to some users as early as this week, spokesperson Tim Rathschmidt tells The Verge. Reddit originally made r/popular the default for logged out users in 2017.Huffman didn’t go into detail on what the improved feeds might look like, and Rathschmidt says that the company is “still in early-stage testing and don’t have more to share at the moment.” However, Huffman did reply to a post asking for the return of News feed filters by saying that he’s “fully aligned here” and that “when I talk about more personalized and relevant feeds, this sort of functionality is what I’m referring to.”RelatedReddit overhauls its front page for new users and lurkersReddit is also in the process of changing its policies for moderators to prevent users from overseeing a large number of high-traffic communities, seemingly to reduce the number of so-called “powermods.” As announced in September, beginning March 31st, 2026, users will only be able to moderate up to five communities that have over 100K weekly visitors. The company says that the change will impact “less than 0.1% of active mods.”“Distinct communities require distinct leaders,” Huffman says. “A situation where someone moderates an unlimited number of massive communities is not that, which is why we’re making a few changes.”Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Jay PetersCloseJay PetersSenior ReporterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jay PetersNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsRedditCloseRedditPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All RedditTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularSteam Machine today, Steam Phones tomorrowOpenAI declares ‘code red’ as Google catches up in AI raceCrucial is shutting down — because Micron wants to sell its RAM and SSDs to AI companies insteadSilicon Valley is rallying behind a guy who sucksHBO Max’s Mad Men 4K release is the opposite of a remasterThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Reddit’s CEO, Steve Huffman, has initiated a significant shift in the platform’s structure, culminating in the decision to discontinue the use of r/popular as the default feed for new users. This move, framed by Huffman as acknowledging the platform’s “outgrown” reliance on a singular, universally appealing front page, represents a fundamental change in Reddit’s approach to personalization and community engagement. The core rationale behind this alteration is the recognition that Reddit’s user base is diverse, with varied interests and preferences. Huffman contends that a single, broadly popular feed fails to adequately cater to this heterogeneity, leading to an inaccurate representation of Reddit’s overall culture.

The decision to replace r/popular stems from Huffman’s assertion that it falsely presented a monolithic “Reddit” experience, one not genuinely reflective of the platform’s diverse communities or appealing to all users. He highlighted the discrepancy between the feed’s popularity among active users and its perception as a representative sample of the entire Reddit community. This shift is intended to deliver more relevant and personalized feeds, tailored to individual user interests, effectively moving away from a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Huffman emphasized the importance of recognizing diverse user groups and allowing for customized feeds that better align with individual preferences.

Furthermore, the CEO is enacting changes regarding the moderation of communities. Reddit is implementing new policies limiting the number of high-traffic communities any single moderator can oversee. Initially, this policy will restrict moderators to managing a maximum of five communities exceeding 100,000 weekly visitors. This adjustment aims to mitigate the influence of “powermods,” individuals who manage a disproportionately large number of popular communities. Huffman argues that this restructuring is necessary to foster distinct community leadership and prevent a concentration of power, which would not align with the platform’s core design. The impact of this change is expected to affect less than 0.1% of active moderators.

While Huffman doesn’t provide specifics regarding the form of the new, personalized feeds, he’s clearly committed to a more granular approach to user engagement. The timing of this shift, beginning as early as this week, suggests a planned rollout designed to minimize disruption and maximize user adoption. The changes are occurring concurrently with the ongoing effort to refine user feeds, signaling a broader strategy for enhancing personalization. This shift also indicates a willingness to acknowledge past decisions and proactively adapt to the evolving needs of the Reddit community.