Reddit Adds 'For You' Feed And 'Following' Tab For Recommendations

Reddit is changing its main feed by splitting it into a 'for you' section for algorithmic recommendations and a 'following' section for posts from subreddits users have joined. The company said the update is meant to help users discover relevant communities and conversations they might not otherwise find. Reddit will initially open to the new 'for you' feed, but it will default to whichever feed a user last used the next time they launch the app.

Feed split

Until now, Reddit used one main feed that mixed recommended posts with updates from joined subreddits. The new structure makes the central feed more like other mainstream social platforms. The 'for you' section is focused on discovery, while the 'following' tab surfaces content from subreddits users have joined.

Engagement and discovery

The company is likely hoping the change will boost engagement. CEO Steve Huffman has said he wants to make it easier for casual users to come back to the service and that Reddit should surface relevant posts, even if they are older. Reddit is also experimenting with video and audio versions of popular posts, including some from threads that are several years old. So far, those posts have not been placed in a full screen scrollable feed like TikTok.

Feedback and future changes

In its blog post announcing the change, Reddit said it will continue experimenting with ways people can more intentionally explore the app, including new ways to navigate it. The company also said it is working on ways for users to offer feedback on recommended content so it can fine tune its suggestions.

Sources: Engadget