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Elon Musk's Private Messages to Reddit CEO Raise Concerns Over Content Moderation Influence

New revelations about Musk's outreach to Steve Huffman and subsequent subreddit bans fuel criticism of his sway over external platforms.

Elon Musk looks on during a Cabinet Meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House March 24, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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Overview

  • Elon Musk privately contacted Reddit CEO Steve Huffman to discuss content moderation, according to newly surfaced reports.
  • Shortly after their communication, Reddit temporarily banned the subreddit r/WhitePeopleTwitter for 72 hours, citing violent content, and permanently banned r/IsElonDeadYet for similar violations.
  • Musk had publicly criticized Reddit communities for banning X links in response to his perceived Nazi-style salute and claimed some users had broken the law with violent comments about DOGE employees.
  • Reddit moderators have expressed unease over Musk's perceived influence on the platform, with some viewing it as problematic for external figures to sway content decisions.
  • Reddit maintains that all reports of policy violations, whether public or private, are independently evaluated, but concerns persist about the broader implications of Musk's actions on platform governance.