Are they running those bots to create a constant float of content? After all it is reddit who benefits the most from repost bots.

The goal would be to keep posting the same content which is known to create a lot of volume in term of comments and then create a custom API specially designed to train the AI’s of their customers.

To me the Eldorado in term of monetization for Reddit is to sell reddit as a playfield for AI’s, and for this you need a good API. Needless to say that I’ve overwritten all my comments before deleting them, I won’t feed an AI.

  • Warped@kbin.social
    7·
    1 year ago

    It wouldn’t surprise me. For some years, it has looked like they are gearing up to sell the site. With the latest idiotic rule change, it kind of confirms that. They are wanting to do anything that drives more users through their official website or app. Inflate users figures and price asked for Reddit goes up. Next step is to block ad blockers so more ad revenue? Who knows?

    Didn’t they use similar tactics to start Reddit? Bots, buzzwords, etc… to make the site look like it was busy?

    Any serious investor/buyer must be concerned about recent activity. Unless you’re someone like Musk. Maybe that’s the plan, he will buy Reddit as well and combine it with Twitter, and create Twittit.

    • Ulu-Mulu-no-die@lemmy.world
      2·
      1 year ago

      he will buy Reddit as well and combine it with Twitter, and create Twittit

      Lmao, it would be really interesting to see what would come out it.

  • Ulu-Mulu-no-die@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    1 year ago

    It’s possible, but not for content flow IMO, not yet at least (maybe they will if lots or users leave during/after the blackout).

    Farming karma and selling accounts it’s a quite widespread practice on reddit.

    That is, new accounts are created, repost bots are attached to them to farm karma, and when they deem it’s enough, they sell/use the accounts for propaganda or advertising, that way they appear more credible to all those not paying enough attention - that is the vast majority of those consuming content.

    the Eldorado in term of monetization for Reddit is to sell reddit as a playfield for AI’s

    I completely agree, no other platform comes even close to the amount of user generated content reddit has, in text form on top of it, that’s perfect for training AIs.

    I’ve overwritten all my comments before deleting them

    What did you use? I was thinking about doing the same.

    • FuzzyDunlop@slrpnk.netOPEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      What did you use? I was thinking about doing the same.

      A python script, you need the praw library. The clients id’s are given in your profile after you create an app.

      import praw

reddit = praw.Reddit(client_id='yourid',
	client_secret='yoursecret',
	password='your password',
	user_agent='deletes my comments',
	username='your username')

redditor = reddit.redditor("your username")

for comment in redditor.comments.top(limit=10000):
	comment.edit("deleted")
#	comment.delete()

      You can edit and delete everything at once but I prefer to overwrite my comments first and let the old cache machines fill up with my new garbage before deleting.