Multiple Subreddits Ban Links to X as Moderators Take a Stand
In the last 24 hours, a growing number of subreddits have taken action to block links to X (formerly Twitter) in their communities. This movement appears to be gaining significant traction across Reddit, with hundreds more subreddits actively debating or considering a similar ban.
Engadget has identified more than two dozen subreddits, collectively representing millions of users, that have already restricted the ability to post X content. High-profile examples include the r/formula1 subreddit (with nearly 5 million members) and smaller communities like r/ultraman (30,000 members).
The Movement Gains Momentum
The wave of bans seems to have originated, at least in part, from r/newjersey, whose moderators banned X links earlier this week with the statement: “Fuck this guy. X links are now banned from r/newjersey.” Accompanying the post, which has received more than 65,000 upvotes, was a photo of Elon Musk extending his arm. Musk’s gestures during certain public appearances, including one at Donald Trump’s inauguration, have been celebrated by far-right extremists.
Shortly after the r/newjersey announcement, numerous other subreddits followed suit, either banning X links outright or restricting their use. Some prominent examples include:
- r/military (489,000 members)
- r/comics (2.7 million members)
- r/casualnintendo (184,000 members)
- r/spiderman (1 million members)
- r/pcgaming (3.8 million members)
- r/rupaulsdragrace (1 million members)
- r/KingdomHearts (345,000 members)
- r/therapists (142,000 members)
Moderator Statements on the Ban
The moderators of r/newjersey explained their decision in a statement to Engadget:
“We weren’t trying to start a trend, and we never expected to go viral. Not everyone will agree with our choice, but Reddit has always been a place where each community gets to decide these things individually. If our announcement has inspired discussions about the role social media is playing in our current times, we think that’s a good thing.”
The moderators of r/formula1 also cited practical reasons, such as X’s increasingly restrictive policies for viewing posts:
“There’s no doubt that over the past years Twitter has become a low-quality source: the login requirements, the flood of bots, the prioritization of content from paying users, and the promotion of sensationalist content. But unlike with news sites in our source-rating system, for Twitter there wasn’t really an alternative.”
Instead, r/formula1 is encouraging users to share content from Bluesky, a platform that doesn’t require a login to view posts. The subreddit has also decided to allow “screenshots of relevant posts by teams, drivers & F1” when the same content isn’t available elsewhere.
Broader Discussions and Resistance
Many other subreddits are actively polling their members or discussing similar bans. These include:
- r/dnd (4 million members)
- r/baseball (2.8 million members)
- r/AlanWake (80,000 members)
- r/Xmen (270,000 members)
Subreddits like r/hockey (2.7 million members), r/georgia (237,000 members), and r/popheads (2.8 million members) have also started conversations about banning X links.
However, not all subreddits are on board with this movement. In r/chess, a moderator explained that banning X links would create logistical challenges for their community:
“The unfortunate reality is that Twitter is the source of a big portion of content on the subreddit. A ban would thus require some rule changes. We’re open to suggestions, but can’t promise anything at the moment.”
Similarly, a moderator of r/fauxmoi highlighted the importance of keeping links for verification purposes:
“We do prefer to still have the link so we can ensure that people are not submitting fake or doctored screenshots.”
A Growing Protest
This is not the first time Redditors have united in protest, but the widespread call to block a major social media source is notable. Whether this movement continues to spread or fizzles out remains to be seen, but it clearly reflects broader frustrations with X’s platform and policies.
