Reddit’s search function has seen a sharp increase in daily use over the past year. CEO Steve Huffman confirmed the platform recorded a 30% rise in weekly searches compared to the same period last year. The company did not disclose specific user numbers but described the change as a noticeable shift in how people interact with the site. The increase comes after years of relatively low engagement with Reddit’s built-in search tool, which many users previously bypassed in favor of external search engines.
Huffman attributed the growth to several updates rolled out over the last 12 months. These included faster search response times and improved relevance in results. The company also introduced features that highlight trending discussions and communities based on search queries. These changes were part of a broader effort to make the platform more self-contained and reduce reliance on Google and other third-party services.
The shift reflects a broader trend among social media users who are increasingly turning to platform-native tools for discovery. Reddit’s move aligns with similar efforts by other large networks to keep users within their ecosystems. The company has not yet announced plans to monetize the increased search activity but has hinted at future integrations that could leverage the trend.
Industry analysts say the rise in search usage could have long-term implications for Reddit’s business model. More searches mean more data on user interests, which could improve ad targeting and community recommendations. The company has not provided further details on how it plans to use this data.
Source: techcrunch.com