In a move that seems to be more of a mea culpa than a celebration, Reddit has reintroduced a revamped version of its awards system. The platform had previously scrapped the feature last year, acknowledging that its replacement, the “golden upvote,” had missed the mark.
While the new system retains much of the old functionality, it comes with a few tweaks, including an awards button beneath posts, a cleaner UI, and leaderboards showcasing top awards. New safety features have also been added to prevent misuse and protect sensitive subreddits.
Notably, Reddit has replaced “coins” with “gold” as the currency for purchasing awards, starting at $1.79 for 100 gold. The platform is also compensating users who lost their coin balance with exclusive, free awards.
Despite Reddit’s attempt at appeasement, the announcement has been met with mixed reactions. Some users are confused about the new system’s mechanics, and many are disappointed by the absence of beloved features like gifting Reddit Premium subscriptions.
While the return of awards may be a welcome change for some, the elimination of coins and certain features has left others feeling disgruntled. It seems Reddit’s attempt to please its users has only fueled further discontent.
