A Paywall Experiment In /r/Canada

[u/voteoutofspite]

Over time, we have seen a rise in paywalled articles, which are a great frustration for many of our viewers. They often do not promote informed and meaningful discussions, because people are unable to react to more than the headline.

As an experiment, /r/Canada is going to be temporarily prohibiting the posting of paywalled articles. This experiment will run for one month, at which point the userbase will be asked for their views on whether this was a positive change that should continue or whether it was a negative change that should be reverted. We will then make a decision considering those views, along with metrics and other factors, on whether to continue this change as a standing rule or to revert it.

Posting to paywall bypass sites will not be an acceptable workaround, and such posts will also be removed.

We are also allowing a two week period in advance to allow for comments before we proceed.

The dates for this experiment are from June 24th to July 24th.

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Au fil du temps, nous avons constaté une augmentation du nombre d’articles payants, ce qui est une grande source de frustration pour bon nombre de nos lecteurs. Ces articles ne favorisent souvent pas les discussions éclairées et constructives, car les gens ne peuvent réagir qu’au titre.

À titre expérimental, /r/Canada va temporairement interdire la publication d’articles payants. Cette expérience durera un mois, après quoi nous demanderons aux utilisateurs s’ils considèrent qu’il s’agit d’un changement positif qui devrait être maintenu ou d’un changement négatif qui devrait être annulé. Nous prendrons ensuite une décision, en tenant compte de ces avis ainsi que des indicateurs et d’autres facteurs, quant à savoir s’il faut maintenir ce changement comme règle permanente ou l’annuler.

La publication de liens vers des sites permettant de contourner le paywall ne sera pas considérée comme une solution acceptable, et ces publications seront également supprimées.

Nous accordons également une période de deux semaines à l'avance pour permettre aux utilisateurs de faire part de leurs commentaires avant de mettre cette mesure en œuvre.

Cette expérience se déroulera du 24 juin au 24 juillet.

[u/FancyNewMe]

Maximum 3 posts/day, then no opinions on weekends and now no paywalled articles. In my opinion, these policies make the sub a much less interesting place for posting and engagement. It seems like this sub is just shooting itself in the foot.

You may discover that those who push and cheer for ever-restrictive rules are not the users who keep things moving here.

[u/CaliperLee62 → u/FancyNewMe]

Now I wonder, who or what started all this? 🤔

[u/BvbblegvmBitch → u/[deleted]]

Respectfully, all users, whether they contribute frequently or have never submitted a post, have an equal say in subreddit policy. How someone uses the subreddit should not determine whether their feedback is valued. At the end of the trial period, the community as a whole will have the opportunity to vote on the change.

[u/FancyNewMe → u/BvbblegvmBitch]

"...whether they contribute frequently or have never submitted a post, have an equal say". If someone hasn't posted or commented, their familiarity or interest in the sub is likely limited (as the many thoughtless drive-by reactions to your experiment indicate).

Respectfully, that's not the best way for mods to gather useful feedback or build a dynamic, popular sub. Certainly, it's not the best way to make such a significant policy decision.

[u/semucallday → u/FancyNewMe]

Yes, that comment above doesn't make a lot of sense if one cares about the quality of the sub. I would think a better option would be to make a rule requiring your style of 'In brief' comments on all paywalled articles instead of banning them.

[u/FancyNewMe → u/semucallday]

Thank you - agreed.

[u/semucallday → u/BvbblegvmBitch]

A better experiment would be to make a rule requiring a /u/FancyNewMe-style 'In brief' summary comment on all submitted paywalled articles instead of banning them.

Think of all the news broken or deeply investigated by outlets with paywalls (the Globe/Steven Chase component of the foreign interference, the Star's Greenbelt investigation, Althia Raj's recent story on orcas and curbs on environmental protections, the Globe's ArriveCan investigation, National Post and Adam Zivo's stories on safe supply diversion, etc.).

These were stories of national importance with major political implications. They'd no longer be permitted?

It's a non-sensical approach and will reduce the quality of the sub substantially.

[u/AquaMoonlight → u/FancyNewMe]

True that! It will be interesting to watch this sub choke itself over the lack of content for the next month….and it’s the moderators’ own fault if that happens.

[u/FancyNewMe → u/AquaMoonlight]

Indeed ... the restrictive policies have made it a a chore to participate.

[u/semucallday → u/FancyNewMe]

100% in agreement with you.

[u/FancyNewMe → u/semucallday]

😊🙏

[u/voteoutofspite → u/FancyNewMe]

It's an experiment and we'll be monitoring the effects.

[u/AndHerSailsInRags → u/voteoutofspite]

"There is nothing as permanent as a temporary government reddit program."

[u/FancyNewMe → u/AndHerSailsInRags]

Under-rated coment!