Reddit Surges in Popularity to Overtake TikTok in the UK - Thanks to Google's Algorithm? (theguardian.com)
- Reference: 0180510933
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/01/04/0547242/reddit-surges-in-popularity-to-overtake-tiktok-in-the-uk---thanks-to-googles-algorithm
- Source link: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jan/03/reddit-overtakes-tiktok-uk-search-algorithms-gen-z
> The platform has undergone huge growth over the last two years, with an 88% increase in the proportion of UK internet users it reaches. Three in five Brits online now encounter the site, up from a third in 2023, [2]according to Ofcom . Its popularity is rising fastest with younger internet users. It is now the sixth most visited organisation of any kind by UK users aged between 18 and 24, up from 10th a year earlier. More than three-quarters of that cohort now visit it....
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> The UK is a boom market for the platform, with the second largest user base behind the US, according to company records. A series of factors are behind its rise. However, a change in Google's search algorithms last year to prioritise helpful content from discussion forums [3]appears to have been a significant driver . A recent deal with Google that allows the company to train its AI model on Reddit's content also appears to have provided a boost. Reddit is the most-cited source for Google AI overviews, which is likely to see more people directed to its forums. It has [4]a similar deal with OpenAI, which owns the most popular AI chatbot, ChatGPT .
According to the article, Reddit "believes it is also benefiting from shifting internet habits, as younger users seek out human-generated reviews and opinions."
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jan/03/reddit-overtakes-tiktok-uk-search-algorithms-gen-z
[2] https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/research-and-data/online-research/online-nation/2025/online-nations-report-2025.pdf?v=409837
[3] https://www.searchenginejournal.com/reddit-traffic-up-39-is-google-prioritizing-opinions-over-expertise/520219/
[4] https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/oct/30/reddit-stock
According to the article, Reddit believes (Score:2)
Oh my gods, Reddit has become self-aware? Please, tell us more about what Reddit believes, so that we might worship it accordingly. Does it believe in animal sacrifice, like the god of the Christians? I'm going to need to invest in turtledoves right away.
Re: (Score:2)
> Oh my gods, Reddit has become self-aware? Please, tell us more about what Reddit believes, so that we might worship it accordingly. Does it believe in animal sacrifice, like the god of the Christians? I'm going to need to invest in turtledoves right away.
Reddit became self-aware that “popularity” is now more important than even profitability.
Reddit also became self-aware of the book Bots for Dummies; How To Win A Popularity Contest.
Reddit - AI bots, and Sad Basement Trolls (Score:2)
I use reddit. It can be good at times. The biggest problem there is no effective way to decipher crazies from normal people. The karma system is a joke. Most of the crazies (overly aggressive, angry, know-it-all, echo chamber weirdos) are the high karmas. Almost the opposite of what karma is supposed to be used for. This might be ok, but this same sort of fanatacism carries over to the mods. You go to some relatively normal sounding subreddit, and read some posts. Cool, so you respond to some posts. Ask in
Human-powered Ignorance. (Score:2)
> According to the article, Reddit "believes it is also benefiting from shifting internet habits, as younger users seek out human-generated reviews and opinions."
According to human history, PT Barnum didn’t need a lick of help from non-human sources in order to prove there’s a sucker born every minute. 4chan is (mostly) human-generated too. Should we consider that a viable source of non-machine powered intelligence too?
Gotta love the circle-jerk logic of fallible greedy humans needing to create AI in business because of fallible greedy humans, who now seek out the advice of fallible greedy humans because of what fallible greedy humans have ironically d
Considerring... (Score:2)
Considering that in some cases you effectively have to be on LinkedIn to get a job, I believe this. Of course the ghost job posts and other nonsense have kind of ruined the idea.
Re: (Score:2)
> Considering that in some cases you effectively have to be on LinkedIn to get a job, I believe this. Of course the ghost job posts and other nonsense have kind of ruined the idea.
LinkedIn has become nothing more than a marketing front to deny an obvious Recession.
Dont believe me? Force every lying cocksucker to remove every ghost job listing that exists for the sole reason of maintaining a bullshit stock price. THEN tell me what the actual economy looks like.
I honestly hope good employees start boycotting LinkedIn. Employers want actual talent? Get off your ass and go find it. It’s not gonna wait around for you on some site that enshittified itself because stock price.
Re: Considerring... (Score:2)
I'm already hearing multiple stories of LinkedIn randomly demanding id scans and people switching to Indeed instead - and actually finding jobs that way. I think LinkedIn has already begun its descent.