Reddit

	Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian (co-founders)
	Social media platform
	2005
	Python, PostgreSQL, JavaScript
	Active

Reddit is an online platform established in 2005 by co-founders Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian. As a discussion website and social media hub, Reddit offers users the opportunity to share their content and engage in conversations on various topics. Reddit has also become a host to a range of content, including not only discussion posts but also instances of screamers and shock site materials.

Website content

The Reddit header, situated at the page's top, prominently features the Reddit logo, a search bar, and various navigation options such as Home, Popular, All, and users' subscribed subreddits. The front page includes the "Content Feed", presenting posts from currently viewed subreddits. These posts can take various forms, including links, images, videos, text, or combinations thereof. Each post is accompanied by a title, an optional image or video thumbnail, and counts of upvotes and comments. On the left-hand side of the page, the user will find the Subreddit List, which displays users' subscribed subreddits, granting them direct access to the respective subreddit homepages. On those posts, they will find "Voting Buttons", represented by ↑ and ↓ arrows. User Information, including usernames and karma scores, which offer insights into users' contributions and voting history on Reddit, is prominently displayed on the interface.

Positioned beneath each post, the player find several Post Options, including saving, hiding, reporting, or sharing posts. Additional information such as the post's subreddit and posting time is also provided. Many subreddits incorporate a right-hand sidebar that contains supplemental information about the subreddit, its rules, links to related subreddits, and occasionally valuable resources. By clicking on their username in the upper right corner, users can access their User Profile, where they can view their posts, comments, saved content, and manage their preferences.

History

Main Article: Wikipedia:Reddit#History

An (unofficial) old redesign of the Reddit's front page.

Recent University of Virginia graduates, Steve Huffman and Ohanian, established Reddit in June 2005. The platform aimed to foster online communities where users could share links and discuss various topics, deriving its name from "read" and "it." In October 2006, Reddit was acquired by Condé Nast Publications for $10 million to $20 million and its team moved to a new place San Francisco. In 2009, both co-founders left Reddit to pursue other ventures, leading to changes in leadership.

Screamer features

Pnrtscr.com creator response

The screamer was created as a website to mimic Lightshot's domain and its supposed cookie banner.

Main Article: Pnrtscr.com

After pnrtscr.com gained popularity in mid 2020, the owner confessed to creating the website on the subreddit r/screamer. He did not create it with malicious intent but rather as an experiment to develop a modern screamer while testing evolving browsers, intending it as a means for people to startle their friends. The website used the domain pnrtscr.com, closely resembling the original Lightshot screenshot tool's domain, prntscr.com. Upon discovering that modern browsers no longer supported auto-play for videos, the website incorporated a fake cookie banner. Such banners have become commonplace on websites and are often accepted by visitors without a second thought. However, in this instance, accepting the cookie banner triggered the screamer on the website. Additionally, a link to the website's source code was provided in the post.

50/50 challenge

The Reddit 50/50 challenge, featured on the subreddit r/fiftyfifty, has garnered significant attention for its shock value. The challenge presents users with a post that typically contains two options and are often labeled with tags such as NSFW (Not Safe for Work), NSFL (Not Safe for Life), or SFW (Safe for Work). The challenge's allure lies in the element of surprise: when users click on the post, they are presented with either a link, a blurred image, or a .gif that reveals its content upon clicking. It's important to note that the challenge is known for its surprises but is considered relatively tame compared to more extreme content found on the internet. Notably, it refrains from featuring self-harm, animal cruelty, or illegal content, distinguishing it from more controversial shock sites like Stile Project, Bestgore, LiveLeak and more.

Links

• Official website
• Official r/screamerwiki reddit (currently private)

See Also

• YouTube
• Twitter
• 4chan - Reddit's worst enemy
• Newgrounds
• Adobe Flash

Comments

Loading comments...