“Reddit Moderator Rewards” will begin shortly as the website wants to run a Mod Helper Program that will reward mods who help out other moderators.
Reddit is introducing the “Mod Helper Program” to reward moderators who provide useful advice to other moderators. They’re also updating the moderator help center. This comes at a time when many moderators on Reddit are unhappy due to third-party apps being shut down because of Reddit’s API pricing.
These moderators have asked Reddit to improve its official app’s tools for moderation, which aren’t as good as the tools provided by now-closed third-party apps.
The relationship between Reddit and its moderators has been tense. Reddit has even removed entire moderator teams for making their subreddits private in protest against the high API pricing. This caused further issues, as third-party app developers criticized the pricing as too high.
Reddit Moderator Rewards: What is the Mod Helper Program?
The Mod Helper Program is a system that rewards helpful moderators with trophies and special labels. In Reddit, users earn karma through upvotes and awards but lose karma if they get downvoted. The program acknowledges moderators who receive upvotes on comments in a subreddit called r/ModSupport.
Comment karma gained in r/ModSupport results in trophies that show other moderators that you provide valuable information. Different ranks give unique trophies and labels, ranging from “Helper” to “Expert Helper.” Reddit had a similar program in the subreddit r/help, which rewarded users for earning karma by helping other users.
Reddit is also introducing the Modmail Answer Bot, which automatically responds with relevant links to the site’s Help Center. If these links don’t help, a human admin will handle the request. This bot is designed to make moderator requests smoother so admins can focus on more complex issues. Additionally, Reddit is combining the moderator-specific Help Center with the overall one to make support resources easier to find.
Reddit Moderator Awards aims for a fresh start
The relationship between Reddit and its moderators has been strained recently, and the Reddit Moderator Awards aims to build up the relationship once again. Over 8,000 subreddits shut down temporarily in protest of Reddit’s new API pricing. Reddit’s CEO called the protesting moderators a minority, which caused more backlash.
Reddit has been slow to provide moderation tools like those in third-party apps, and their updates aren’t very good. Despite exceptions for accessibility apps, the in-app moderation tools aren’t accessible for blind moderators. Some users in r/ModSupport questioned the automated support system and said the subreddit is for communicating with admins, not other moderators.
There were mixed responses to the peer-to-peer helper program. Some users questioned if it would make getting help from real people harder. They also mentioned that the subreddit is for communicating with admins, not moderators.
In response to the announcement, some users expressed frustration about the lack of helpful features in Reddit’s official app. They requested better tools for running subreddits after third-party apps were removed. Another user pointed out that the new flair rewards don’t necessarily reflect helpfulness.
Millions gathered to protest Reddit’s latest API changes but will it work?
An admin responded, saying Reddit’s product teams are working on addressing issues raised by moderators and improving mobile features. The admin explained that automating some tasks allows them to focus more on complex problems and prioritize building better tools.
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