There’s a robust reddit advertising ecosystem that exists. While much of that starts with standard “buy an ad that doesn’t scream that its an ad” stuff, things like doing an AMA or engaging with users or trying to co-opt user content are all in the mix.
Mods who can approve posts from advertising accounts, block or remove criticism, and even block posts from competitors can gatekeep messaging could, if they were dickbags, stand to make a decent amount of money for it if all the communications comes from sidechannels. /r/hailcorportate always sot of found the line between astroturf advertising and genuine brand worship by idiots, and it’s intentionally messy so it’s hard to tell what’s what.
Even buying and selling of old accounts is a thing. Buying and selling of upvotes from bot accounts, etc. The whole platform is manipulated unless it’s a small niche sub.
interdimensionalmeme@lemmy.ml 1 month ago
I imagine they get paid by intelligence agencies and advertising to shut down inconvenient and critical topics, positive discussions of competitors or criticing of the product, via overbroad catch all rules and moderator discretion.