By Tom Blitzer
Key Insights:
- Reddit’s new program turns karma and gold into cash rewards.
- Gold feature’s revamp simplifies rewarding standout content.
- Eligible users can now monetize their Reddit contributions.
The prominent American social news platform Reddit recently announced its innovative “Contributor Program.” This program is a testament to Reddit’s commitment to appreciating its users’ contributions. The platform also enhances its Reddit Gold feature, a staple of over a decade.
Monetizing User Contributions
Reddit’s Contributor Program is a strategic move to reward its dedicated users financially. The essence of this program lies in its simplicity. Users share content on the platform, and this content undergoes an evaluation. The metrics for this evaluation are the karma and gold that users receive for their contributions. Essentially, the higher the karma and gold a user accumulates, the more monetary rewards they stand to gain.
Nonetheless, specific criteria must be fulfilled for engaging in this program. Users must be aged 18 or above and live in the US. Additionally, their Reddit accounts should have been active for at least 30 days. Upon satisfying these stipulations, users must navigate through a verification procedure. Once verified successfully, they are welcome to enrol in the program and kickstart their journey of earning.
Accessing this program is straightforward. Tapping the avatar in the top-right corner will reveal a side drawer for mobile users. For those accessing Reddit via its website, clicking on the username in the top right will present a drop-down menu. Within this menu, there’s a distinct tab labelled “Contributor Program,” which is accompanied by a wallet icon. Users are directed to the program’s marketing page by selecting this tab. If all eligibility criteria are satisfied, the “Get Verified to Start Earning” button becomes active, guiding users to the next steps.
It’s crucial to highlight that the payment process is monthly. The amount to be paid is directly proportional to the karma and gold users receive on their eligible contributions during that month.
The Evolution of Reddit Gold
Parallel to the Contributor Program, Reddit Gold is witnessing significant changes. Since its inception in 2010, Reddit Gold has undergone numerous modifications. In its early days, it served as a premium feature, offering users insights into their avatar’s karma, an ad-free browsing experience, and protection from specific subreddits. However, a shift occurred in July 2023. The ability to award creators using Reddit Gold was phased out. The Contributor Program has been introduced as its worthy successor.
The mechanism to award content with gold has been made more user-friendly. A simple long press on the upvote icon is all it takes on mobile devices. For desktop users, hovering over the upvote icon does the trick. Reddit is also diversifying its gold awarding options. The pricing begins at $1.99 for one gold piece and can escalate to $49.00 for a set of 25 gold. This revamped feature is debuting on Reddit’s native mobile apps within select communities. However, Reddit has plans to broaden its reach to more communities in the subsequent weeks.
Reddit’s latest endeavours underscore its dedication to valuing and rewarding its vast community’s contributions. As the platform undergoes these transformative changes, it remains steadfast in its mission to enhance user engagement and satisfaction. The introduction of the Contributor Program, combined with the rejuvenation of Reddit Gold, ensures that Reddit’s loyal user base will enjoy a richer and more rewarding experience.