To align with the new focus on gold rewards, Reddit has introduced some interface enhancements. Gilded posts and comments will now showcase a gold upvote icon, replacing the standard one. Additionally, Reddit users can now directly award and purchase gold from a post. Mobile app users can long-press on the upvote icon for a post or comment, while web users will soon have the ability to hover their cursor over the symbol. This streamlined gold system offers users the option to purchase one gold for $2 or up to 25 gold awards for a maximum of $49. The new gold system is already available on mobile and will be rolled out to web users later this year.
An Investment in Engaging Contributors
Reddit’s earlier API changes had made it challenging for third-party platforms to track engagement on the platform. The introduction of the Contributor Program and the emphasis on rewarding top contributors can be seen as Reddit’s strategy to foster and retain prolific content creators. This move mirrors the creator programs seen on platforms like X, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, aiming to boost engagement and content quality by offering incentives to valued contributors.
