For the past two months, a battle has been brewing between Elon Musk and Reddit, one of the largest online discussion platforms. The dispute started when several Reddit communities decided to block links to X (formerly Twitter). This happened after many users accused Musk of making a controversial gesture that looked like a Nazi salute.
In response, Musk publicly criticized Reddit for allowing its communities to prevent people from linking to X. He claimed it was unfair and called the situation “insane.” But that wasn’t the only issue that caught his attention. Around the same time, some Reddit users allegedly made threats against employees of an organization called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk went on X and accused these users of breaking the law.
While many thought his concerns would remain online, new information reveals that he also took matters into his own hands behind the scenes.
Private Messages and Reddit’s Response
According to sources familiar with the situation, Musk directly messaged Reddit’s CEO, Steve Huffman, to express his concerns about what was happening on the platform. The two exchanged text messages discussing the blocking of X links and the threats against DOGE employees.
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Soon after these private conversations, Reddit took action. One of the subreddits involved, r/WhitePeopleTwitter, was banned for 72 hours. The company explained that the decision was made due to the “prevalence of violent content.” Additionally, the specific thread that Musk had shared on X was completely deleted. This removal not only took down comments that contained threats but also erased hundreds of others that did not call for violence.
Despite this, the platform does not seem to have forced moderators to allow X links again. Each subreddit still has the right to decide whether or not to allow links to certain platforms.
When asked about the situation, spokesperson Gina Antonini stated that the company takes all reports of policy violations seriously, regardless of whether they are made publicly or privately. She added that the company evaluates content and takes action if it violates its rules. Musk did not respond to any requests for comments.
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Moderator Reactions and Growing Concerns
Once news of Musk’s private messages reached Reddit moderators, many began discussing the situation on Discord, a separate chat platform. Some moderators mocked Musk, with one joking that he was “coming for r/Comics,” another subreddit that had blocked links to X. Others called him a “giant baby.”
However, not all moderators dismissed the issue as a simple tantrum. Some acknowledged that the threats against DOGE employees were serious and needed to be removed. One moderator wrote that death threats should not be allowed on Reddit, regardless of who reports them.
Still, there were concerns about the bigger picture. Many moderators found it troubling that Musk could directly influence how the platform is moderated. While removing violent content was the right decision, some felt uncomfortable knowing that someone with immense wealth and power could get special attention from Reddit’s leadership.
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This situation also raised questions about fairness. Musk had criticized the platform communities for blocking links to X, yet he himself has a history of blocking links to competing platforms on X. In fact, he has restricted links to rival websites multiple times since taking over the platform.
As discussions about his influence continued, Reddit maintained that it follows its own policies when making moderation decisions. However, the timing of the ban on r/WhitePeopleTwitter and the deletion of the thread has left many wondering just how much influence Musk really has over online platforms.
The incident has reignited debates about who controls online spaces, who gets to decide what stays up or gets removed, and whether the voices of powerful individuals carry more weight than the general public.
