Several subreddits are banning links to X.
Other subreddits are considering similar changes.
Various popular subreddits have decided to ban links to X following a gesture made by Elon Musk that has been described by historians and human rights organizations as a Nazi salute. The communities that have implemented this restriction include subreddits such as r/formula1, r/military, r/nursing, r/TwoXChromosomes, and r/nintendo. This movement has spread across Reddit after neo-Nazi groups celebrated a speech by Musk during a rally on Monday, where he addressed supporters of Donald Trump.
During his speech, Musk raised his arm twice in an action that has been interpreted as a Nazi salute by several historians and elected officials. At one point during the speech, he placed his hand on his chest and extended his arm forward at an angle, holding it in the air for a few moments while saying, "My heart is with you." Some of his supporters have defended the action, arguing that the gesture aligned with his words.
Musk has not repudiated the neo-Nazis' interpretation of his gesture and has downplayed the criticism by commenting on X that "the ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is so tired." Previously, Musk has amplified racist and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, such as the Great Replacement Theory, and continues to post unfounded anti-immigrant claims. After investing millions of dollars in U.S. politics to support Trump, he has also begun to dabble in German politics, endorsing the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The subreddits that have implemented this new rule encompass millions of users from different geographies and interests. Some have decided to allow screenshots of content from X, but not direct links, and several large communities such as r/nba and r/nfl are debating whether to follow suit. Even aside from Musk's political stances, access to X links on Reddit is not optimal: they often do not display properly, and a X account is needed to access the conversation.
A spokesperson for Reddit, who preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the topic, commented that the platform has a long-standing commitment to freedom of expression and association. While each subreddit can set its own community rules, "Reddit Inc. does not have any ban on X links; there are still many X links on Reddit," the spokesperson wrote in an email. So far, X has not responded to a request for comment.
