GoKawiilReddit Cofounder Ohanian: Social Apps Are Out, Group Chats Are Next
Speaking at WIRED's inaugural World Fair, Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian said building social media apps is no longer appealing and predicted that an improved version of group chats will become the next major form of user-generated content. He also voiced support for the 'Dead Internet Theory,' saying bots and AI agents increasingly dominate online activity once built for humans.
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Ohanian's comments highlight a tension facing platforms like Reddit, which profits from licensing human-generated content to AI firms even as AI-driven search tools cut into its referral traffic, with Reddit shares dropping 29 percent last week after such a warning. His remarks suggest that verifying 'provable humanity' online could become a central challenge for platforms trying to preserve authentic engagement amid commercial pressures and bot proliferation.
- Ohanian says traditional social media app development has lost its appeal, with group chats seen as the next evolution of user content.
- He supports the 'Dead Internet Theory', suggesting AI agents are increasingly replacing human activity online.
- Reddit's stock fell 29% last week after warning that Google's AI search was reducing referral traffic to its platform.
Source: tech.slashdot.org, 2026-11-09
Published there as: “Reddit Founder Says Building Social Media Apps Is 'Not Cool Anymore'”
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