Recently, Reddit announced a new policy that requires all subreddit moderators to obtain admin approval to switch their communities from public to private. This news, initially reported by The Verge, has quickly sparked widespread attention and discussion. Many see this policy change as an attempt to curb site-wide protests.

As one of the largest online communities globally, Reddit has long been a crucial platform for users to freely express their opinions. However, this policy change seems to send a clear message to users: Reddit aims to exert more control over its communities. This can't help but bring to mind past events, such as the “July Strike” in 2015, when many subreddits temporarily shut down to protest Reddit's mishandling of employee issues. That protest ultimately led to significant changes at Reddit, including the ousting of then-CEO Ellen Pao.

Now, with this new policy in place, future protests may become much more difficult. On one hand, moderators will have to go through a lengthy approval process to switch their communities to private, which will undoubtedly delay the protest process. On the other hand, it means that any large-scale protest will require more meticulous planning to avoid direct intervention by the platform. For regular users, this is a frustrating development, as their voices may become even harder to hear.

Of course, Reddit officials argue that this policy is intended to protect user safety and privacy. They claim that many subreddits are misused for illegal activities or harassment. Therefore, tighter management of these communities is necessary. However, this explanation hasn't fully convinced everyone. Many users believe that Reddit should be more transparent about the reasons for the policy changes and provide more channels for user feedback.

Overall, this policy change is likely to spark more controversy and debate within the Reddit community. Regardless of the outcome, it represents a significant test of the platform's governance methods. Hopefully, Reddit will find a better balance in the future, protecting user rights while maintaining the health of the platform.