Reddit tests audio and video versions of text posts to compete with TikTok
Reddit is testing a new way to consume its posts: instead of reading, you can listen or watch. The trial launched on August 17 in select English-language subreddits on iOS and Android, and it targets a format that has already made other people a lot of money — just not Reddit itself.
The stolen revenue problem
Right now, third-party creators narrate Reddit posts over a plain background, post the results on YouTube, and earn an estimated $3–8 per thousand views. Hashtags like #reddit and #redditstories have racked up 19.6 million and 9.9 million TikTok views respectively, per TechCrunch. Reddit generates none of that revenue. CEO Steve Huffman flagged the issue during the Q2 2026 earnings call on July 31, calling it an opportunity the platform intends to take back.
What the feature actually does
When the new format is available on a post, users see an option to switch from reading to listening or viewing. The audio version is designed for eyes-free moments — commuting, exercising, cooking. The video version pairs synthesized narration with visual formatting, similar to what you already see on TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Original text posts stay intact. Comments remain accessible. Reddit describes this as a limited test, with broader rollout decisions tied to what the data shows.
Early signals suggest appetite: video comments already account for more than 10% of video posts on the platform, which Reddit treats as a sign that users are comfortable with richer media formats.
What's still missing
The obvious gap is money. Reddit has not announced how — or whether — it will share revenue with the users whose posts get turned into audio or video. The platform's existing gold system pays around $0.90–$1 per award, but no creator split has been confirmed for this format. Until that changes, the people whose content drives the feature may have little reason to prefer Reddit over YouTube.
There is also no confirmed timeline for a wider rollout in the US, UK, or elsewhere. For now, "later this year" is the only public commitment.
