Reddit is removing its current coins and awards system on September 12th. Users will no longer be able to buy awards like Reddit Gold to give to other users’ posts. Reddit says the current awards system is too cluttered and confusing, so they plan to introduce a new simpler system in the coming months that will allow users to reward each other in a more meaningful way. Many users are unhappy about the removal of the awards system without a replacement ready. Some are also frustrated that Reddit is not providing compensation for the coins users have already purchased. While details of the new system are vague, it appears Reddit may allow users to cash out their gold and karma for real money.

  • First, many don’t appreciate the clutter from awards

    Yeah, because the only award that ever mattered to most users was gold. They messed that up, and now they’re going to mess up even more.

    I used to buy gold sometimes, which was always a waste of money but I could at least justify the $3.99 for the meme or whatever when I really liked somebody’s comment or post, but I never spent a single cent on awards after they implemented the extended rewards system. Those awards were always laughably bad. They even locked some for premium users only. Just absolute clowns running that place.

  •  rnd   ( @rnd@beehaw.org ) 
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    281 year ago

    Personally I wouldn’t get rid of my primary source of funding without having a ready replacement during a time of financial trouble, but they do them, I guess…

  • It would be neat for Lemmy to have something like it. It’s a great way to self fund in an engaging way.

    There probably needs to be a foundation or something that can distribute funds to instances though to prevent heavy consolidation by way of simple popularity based funding 🤔

    • My beef with them is it gives a comment an artificially high “vote” which tends to dominate the discussion (people feel it’s a higher quality comment point), even if the content on its own doesn’t merit it.

    • From the funding aspect, that makes sense. From a user perspective, I always found Gold (or especially any of the other rewards) quite distracting. Being human, my eye is drawn to the metals along with the judgment that came with it, like this must be a good quality well-received post before even reading it. Often, it was just a joke though or some popular opinion without too much depth. I really hope Lemmy does not incorporate rewards for this reason.

  • Reddit’s handling of removing the awards aside I was never a huge fan of the awards system and felt it amplified or legitimized certain posts just by virtue of someone really liking it rather than it necessarily being accurate or especially “good.” I’m far more concerned with the indications that they’re working on a system to turn Karma itself into a system that could be exchanged for value. That’d turn Karma Farming into a legitimate profession.

  • Since we are talking about Reddit, I will comment based on the topic alone. I’ve got my glasses pulled down my nose to type this reaction. If need be, after acting like a Beehaw user and RTFA, I will alter my reaction.

    What the fuck are they thinking?