Over 100 Reddit communities have prohibited users from sharing links to X in protest of owner Elon Musk's controversial arm gesture at a rally commemorating Donald Trump's return to office. Musk extended his arm out straight twice, thanking the crowd for "making it happen."
While many Reddit users found Musk's response describing his actions as "hateful" unconvincing, moderators of numerous subreddits have ceased content sharing related to X.
The BBC has reached out to both X and Reddit for a comment.
Reddit heavily relies on community moderation, where unpaid individuals, known as Redditors, determine what can and cannot be posted on their respective subreddit forums, which are hubs for discussions on specific interests.
Following the controversy, many subreddits have refrained from linking to X, potentially reducing traffic and engagement.
Major subreddits enforcing the ban include r/NBA with 15 million members, r/TwoXChromosomes with 14 million members, and r/NFL with 12 million members.
It's crucial to note that subreddits are typically managed by enthusiasts and not representative of official stances taken by organizations like the NFL or NBA towards Musk.
The BBC has independently confirmed that at least 100 subreddits have banned X posts, with over 60 having at least 100,000 members. The actual number of subreddits implementing the ban is expected to be significantly higher, including smaller communities with fewer members.
Various communities are considering blacklisting X. Subreddits focusing on sports teams like Liverpool, Celtic, and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as Formula 1, are among those that have enforced the ban. Additionally, subreddits from cities worldwide, such as New Jersey and South Korea, have also blocked X-related content.
Furthermore, gaming communities, including those for Baldur's Gate 3 and World of Warcraft, have joined in the ban. Although initiated by some communities, this movement is spreading to diverse topics like RuPaul's Drag Race, Disneyland, and even the military.
While a large majority of subreddits support the ban, there are exceptions. Some subreddits, especially those centered on professional sports, may significantly impact referrals to X due to their usual content sources from athletes, analysts, and journalists posting online.
It's worth mentioning that Reddit is known for such community-led protests against broader issues, and these bans might not be permanent. Previous incidents, like allowing only photos and videos of comedian John Oliver due to user complaints, were short-lived.