Reddit takes a teach-the-controversy approach to pandemic and vaccines

Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | Yuriko Nakao )

Reddit yesterday defended its stance on allowing pandemic misinformation after hundreds of subreddit moderators joined an open letter urging the company to "take action against the rampant Coronavirus misinformation on their website."

The open letter on r/VaxxHappened was joined by over 450 moderators and said that subreddits existing "solely to spread medical disinformation and undermine efforts to combat the global pandemic should be banned." The hundreds of subreddits that joined the open letter include 10 with over 10 million subscribers each, over 40 subreddits with 1 million to 10 million subscribers each, and about 20 others with 500,000 to 1 million subscribers.

In response, Reddit posted an explanation of its approach, saying it will continue to allow "debate" and "dissent" on vaccines and other COVID-related matters, even when there is a scientific consensus.

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