Reddit will switch to a 'logged-in only experience'

Reddit announced plans to transition to a logged-in only experience, beginning testing outside the US before a global rollout. CEO Steve Huffman attributed the shift to AI tools like Google’s summarization features, which reduce search-driven traffic to Reddit threads. The company aims to prioritize direct user engagement over search referrals, which have declined by one million weekly in October. Huffman emphasized that over 80% of Reddit’s revenue already comes from logged-in users and app interactions.

The logged-in requirement is intended to safeguard Reddit’s data corpus, which is valuable for AI training partnerships with companies like OpenAI and Google. Huffman noted that while discussions with these partners are ongoing, no new announcements about those deals are imminent. The move aligns with Reddit’s broader strategy to become a daily habit for users rather than relying on external search traffic.

To drive engagement, Reddit plans to introduce algorithmic feeds, improve app design and performance, and expand features such as AI-powered moderation tools. New experiences like games and visual podcasts—using generative AI to convert posts into videos—are also in development. These initiatives aim to create a more immersive and habitual user experience on the platform.

Reddit’s revenue grew 53% year-over-year in its 2026 third-quarter results, with weekly active users increasing by 16%. Despite this growth, the company’s share price declined following a lower-than-expected forecast for the next quarter. The logged-in only transition reflects a strategic pivot to prioritize user retention and data monetization amid evolving search and AI landscapes.