Steve Huffman, co-founder of Reddit, discusses the challenges of maintaining humanity on the internet amid increasing automation and social media's performative nature. He contrasts the 'stage' model of social media with Reddit's 'city' model of diverse, self-governed communities that foster genuine human connection and values, emphasizing the importance of intentional design to preserve real human interaction online.
Steve Huffman, co-founder of Reddit, explores a critical question: Are humans becoming extinct on the internet? His answer is no, but he acknowledges that the internet is increasingly automated and optimized for attention, which can leave people feeling isolated. The original purpose of the internet was to connect people, and while it has connected billions, the feeling of true connection is different from mere connectivity.
Huffman reflects on Reddit’s beginnings in 2005, when he and a few others created a simple platform for sharing and discussing links. From these conversations, communities naturally emerged—some interesting, helpful, funny, or weird. However, by the time Huffman returned to Reddit after five years, the platform faced challenges due to a lack of clear policies and guardrails on acceptable behavior.
He emphasizes that while communities form naturally when people come together, a platform that supports many communities coexisting healthily and sustainably must be intentionally designed. This is crucial in an era where loneliness has been declared an epidemic by the US Surgeon General, with 73% of people surveyed saying technology contributes to that loneliness. Despite this, people are increasingly seeking in-person connections, highlighting the need to deliver genuine connection online intentionally.
Huffman introduces a metaphor contrasting social media as a "stage" and Reddit as a "city."
Social media platforms are likened to a stage with a spotlight, audience, and performers competing for attention. This environment encourages people to perform, often saying things they do not truly believe to gain engagement, which is the currency of social media. Engagement, whether positive or negative, drives visibility, leading to phenomena like "ragebait."
With the rise of AI, content can be generated without human involvement, further distancing the internet from genuine human interaction. Huffman notes that this trend sacrifices humanity multiple times over.
In contrast, a city is a place where people live, work, play, and form neighborhoods with distinct cultures and values. Reddit mirrors this model, with thousands of communities acting as neighborhoods where people share support, humor, and knowledge.
Unlike the stage, the city creates citizens rather than celebrities. Attention is distributed rather than concentrated, and people participate rather than perform. Reddit does not reward fame or wealth but encourages helpfulness and community engagement through mechanisms like upvotes and downvotes, which help enforce community values and culture.
Huffman shares real examples of Reddit communities that embody this city model:
Mom for a Minute: A supportive space where people can seek or offer motherly support, encouragement, and honest feedback. For instance, a user celebrating acceptance into medical school received heartfelt congratulations and advice to take care of themselves.
Bald: A community for those considering shaving their heads, often as a show of solidarity or identity, such as a user shaving their head in support of a mother undergoing chemotherapy. The community offers emotional support and boosts self-esteem.
Am I the Asshole?: One of Reddit’s largest communities, where users pose moral questions and receive candid feedback. Unlike AI chatbots that tend to offer affirming but potentially unhelpful responses, Reddit users provide nuanced, sometimes tough-love advice that reflects community values.
Huffman highlights several key insights:
People Are Overwhelmingly Good: When stripped of social media incentives, people naturally want to be helpful, interesting, and funny.
Self-Governance Works: Reddit communities write and enforce their own rules, with civility being the most common guideline.
Anonymity Provides Safety: Contrary to popular belief, anonymity on Reddit allows people to express themselves freely and authentically, fostering a safer environment.
While Huffman is not anti-AI and acknowledges its usefulness for straightforward queries, he warns against an internet dominated by automated, sanitized content. He advocates for more "cities" and fewer "stages"—places where people can participate authentically rather than perform for attention.
To preserve humanity in the age of AI, we must build spaces that encourage real human interaction, where the incentive is to be helpful rather than viral.
Steve Huffman’s vision for a better internet centers on intentional design that fosters genuine communities, self-governance, and distributed attention. Reddit’s model of diverse, value-driven neighborhoods offers a compelling alternative to the performative, attention-driven social media landscape, emphasizing the importance of human connection and participation in the digital age.
This perspective is especially relevant today as AI and social media compete for our attention. The humanistic communities Huffman describes remind us of the profound value of real human experiences and connections online, beyond the allure of viral fame or automated content.
