TL;DR
Reddit launched video comments for all users in public SFW communities. Videos don’t autoplay and are checked by safety systems before posting.
Reddit has launched video comments for all users. The feature lets any Redditor upload or record a short-form video reply directly in the comments of any post. It rolls out across all public, safe-for-work communities starting Thursday.
A video icon now appears alongside the existing image and GIF options in the comment box. Users can either upload an existing video or record one in place. Videos do not autoplay. Reddit’s safety systems check video comments before they are posted.
“We are continually evolving Reddit to deliver a more immersive and authentic human experience,” said Chief Product Officer Maria Angelidou-Smith. “The ability to reply with video gives users more creative ways to engage in communities they love.”
The 💜 of EU tech
The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol’ founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!
The feature has been in limited testing. Reddit pointed to a video AMA with Mel C from the Spice Girls, conducted two months ago, as an example of the intended use case. Celebrity and expert AMAs are a natural fit: a host can record personalised video responses to individual questions in the thread.
Reddit’s user base has traditionally favoured anonymity and text-based discussion. There is no requirement that a posted video show the user’s face. In practice, video comments are likely to become another meme format, with users replying to posts with reaction clips rather than showing themselves on camera.
Subreddit moderators can disable the feature for their communities. Only public, SFW subreddits are eligible. Private and NSFW communities are excluded.
The launch reflects Reddit’s broader push to become a more visual platform as it competes for engagement with TikTok and YouTube. Reddit’s share price has risen sharply since its 2024 IPO, driven in part by its role as a training data source for AI models. Adding video to comments increases time on platform and creates more content, both of which support ad revenue and the data licensing deals that have become a growing part of its business.
