Reddit's New Audio/Video
Reddit begins testing new audio and video post formats on mobile apps.
Key Points
Initial tests will target select English-language posts in chosen communities and will roll out in Reddit's iOS and Android apps to gauge which formats resonate.
CEO Steve Huffman described the trend as part of 'podcasts where people read Reddit content,' suggesting a 'listened-to or spoken Reddit' could be engaging.
Reddit videos posted in comments already account for more than 10% of all video posts on the service, highlighting existing appetite for video formats.
Narrated posts may include on-screen text as they’re read or be paired with unrelated visuals (e.g., gaming or cooking clips) as part of the new formats.
Reddit is testing a feature that turns text posts into audio clips and short videos, letting users listen to or watch posts instead of reading them. The experiment uses AI-generated voices to narrate posts and selected comments, according to Crypto Briefing.
The test is live in select communities on Reddit's iOS and Android apps. Users who see a supported post can choose to read it the traditional way or hit play. The original text stays untouched, AOL reported.
CEO Steve Huffman Frames This as a 'Spoken Reddit'
Reddit CEO Steve Huffman pointed to the rise of "podcasts where people read Reddit content" as a key inspiration. He described the idea of a "listened-to or spoken Reddit" as something that could pull in new users and bring back casual readers who rarely post. The goal is to meet people where they already consume content — through their ears.
The push also comes as Reddit prepares to enter the S&P 500, Whalesbook noted. Expanding into video and audio formats could help the company grow its user base and boost engagement numbers ahead of that milestone.
AI Voices, On-Screen Text, and TikTok-Style Clips
The new formats work in a few different ways. Some posts will be read aloud by an AI voice while on-screen text scrolls alongside. Others may pair the narration with unrelated video clips — think cooking footage or gaming highlights playing in the background — similar to how viral TikTok videos work, Crypto Briefing reported.
Reddit is testing which of these styles users prefer. The rollout is limited to English-language posts in chosen communities for now. The company wants to find the formats that resonate most before any wider expansion, according to WDC News 6.
Video in Comments Already Accounts for 10% of All Posts
Reddit is not new to video. The platform already allows video in comments, and those clips now make up more than 10% of all video posts on the service, Yahoo Tech reported. That number signals that Reddit's audience already has an appetite for richer media — even in places like comment threads.
The current audio and video tests build on that momentum. Reddit has run broader video experiments before, and this latest effort is designed to supplement text posts, not replace them. Access to the original post and its comments will stay intact.
Reddit Wants Authenticity, Not a TikTok Clone
Reddit is walking a careful line. The company says the new formats are meant to keep the platform's authentic feel. The idea is not to turn Reddit into TikTok, but to give existing content a new way to reach people who prefer to listen or watch rather than read, Whalesbook reported.
For now, the test is small. Only a sample of posts across select communities will get the audio or video treatment. Reddit will use the results to decide which formats are worth scaling up across the full platform.
Sentiment
Mostly PositivePublishers
10
Articles
6
Reach
16
