Reddit Takes On The Bots With New ‘Human Verification’ Requirements For Fishy Behavior
Reddit's new human verification system targets bots using biometrics and passkeys — here's what it means for your account and privacy.
Matilda
Reddit Takes On The Bots With New ‘Human Verification’ Requirements For Fishy Behavior
Reddit is cracking down on bots — and this time, the changes are personal. Starting this week, the platform will require suspected automated accounts to prove they belong to a real human being. If your account triggers certain behavioral signals, you may be asked to verify yourself using biometrics, a passkey, or in some countries, a government ID. Why Reddit Is Declaring War on Bots Right Now The timing is no accident. A well-known would-be Reddit competitor recently shut down after failing to control a bot infestation that made the platform unusable. Reddit is clearly paying attention. According to data from a major internet infrastructure company, bot traffic is on pace to exceed human traffic across the web by 2027 — and Reddit has become one of the most targeted platforms. The problem runs deeper than spam. Bots on Reddit are used to manipulate political narratives, astroturf for brands, repost viral content for traffic, generate fake engagement, and flood communities with misinform…
