Episode 2: Reddit is the new black

Well, well, well. We have a new platform to obsess over. 



Becoming obsessed with Reddit was NOT on my bingo card for 2026. Sidenote: Can you believe we are already halfway through the year? 

I became more curious about Reddit after my last post and wanted to learn more about what the platform had to offer. 

Currently, I am seeing a lot about cats. I don't have a cat, nor do I care to learn about them, but in the past 24 hours, I have learned a lot about them. Fun Fact: Siamese cats will naturally darken or develop color as they age. Now, how did I get so lucky to get all these cute little kittens on my feed? 

My guess was that whatever algorithm or machine learning Reddit uses came to the conclusion that I am likely to engage with content about cats. It also decided that I am into wedding dresses/wedding attire, baby names, and handwriting. 

A few subreddits that make more sense: 
  • Tampa: I had been looking for restaurants in the area recently 
  • Anything food-related: I look for a lot of new recipes, meal prepping, and techniques 
  • Cruising/travel: no need to explain this one lol
  • Publix/Costco/Sprouts: I love a good grocery store, but I have also been learning a lot about the management and behind-the-scenes daily operations through these channels 
My Reddit experience has led me to think more deeply about Bucher's article, "The Algorithmic Imaginary: Exploring the Ordinary Affects of Facebook Algorithms." More specifically, at what moment did I realize that Reddit utilizes its own algorithm and how it calculates what I am most likely to respond to or engage with? I don't think it's too far off, except for the insane amount of information about cats, baby names, and wedding attire. 

Comments

  1. Ashley FergusonJune 13, 2026 at 4:47 PM

    Girl! Your blog is my new favorite because you are FUNNY! Thank you for posting the honest thoughts of what a lot of us are thinking as we explore some of these new platforms. I saw one of your recent posts about your original thoughts about Reddit, and I agree. I was weary to join, but I have been pleasantly surprised by my algorithm.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Maria HJune 14, 2026 at 8:59 AM

    Interesting! Whatever the Reddit algorithm is trying to figure out about me is completely wrong. If it were only up to the algorithm, I would never become interested in any Reddit communities. I had to find the best subreddits on my own. My favorite is r/ELATeachers. It has excellent content, intelligent members who are capable of self-regulating, and I can always find information that can be implemented relatively easily in my classes.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Episode 1: The potato and Reddit

Image
Is this a safe space? Because I have a confession. I have no idea how to actually use Reddit.  Honestly, I'm convinced that Reddit is the dark web, or at least an entry point to it. I have stumbled across some bizarre things on Reddit that have me wondering if I should delete the app afterward. Is there a user guide for Reddit? I fear I missed a tutorial video or orientation class on how to use Reddit effectively.  I have joined one community since downloading the app. I use it mostly to keep up with what's going on in Tallahassee and for the weekly events. I really like it for the cooking subreddits, which I have been exploring more over the past few weeks. This week alone, I explored several of the cultural cuisine subreddits. I'm mostly an observer, choosing not to comment but to sit on the sidelines, taking it all in. Sometimes it can be overwhelming because there are so many people contributing, and it's difficult to find exactly what I'm actually looking for. ...
Read more

Pilot: A Potato Story

How did I end up here?  The description of this course made me think this is going to be just what I need for the summer. A little sun (because who doesn't love a baked potato) and a course that helps me understand social media and how it impacts the potatoes around me.  My history with social media is one of many tales, some fairytales, and others like horrors. Social media was a space for me to connect with my fellow potatoes, meet new potatoes, and learn about potato society. In most cases, I truly enjoy social media, but, just like in real life, I can be a bit of an introverted extrovert (Ambivert). I can do it, and sometimes I feel great at it, but I often need long breaks from it. I "unplugged" back in April because I felt like I had been consuming too much and engaging beyond my capacity, so I logged out of the apps and even deleted some. The desire to connect is still there, but I haven't figured out safeguards to do it in a way that protects me.  Now you'...
Read more

Is Social Media Addictive?

Image
 Let's address the elephant in the room Is social media addictive? This question stemmed from the NPR episode - Social Media is changing what "addiction" means. Now, before I get too deep in my recap of the episode, I am pausing to answer the question: Is social media addictive? The answer for me is yes. One could also argue that I have a slightly addictive personality (but just a little). If you've never heard that term before, the  Cleveland Clinic defines "Addictive Personality" as a "casual" term used to describe a person who exhibits behaviors that lead them to overindulge.  Here's another cool article from the Mayo Clinic with a few signs of addictive personality traits.  Now back to the podcast.  In short, NPR host Brittany Luse, guest Shannon Bond, and Dr. Carl Erik Fisher are breaking down allegations that tech companies intentionally design apps to be addictive for young users. I wanted to look into these cases further, so I'm ...
Read more