- Reddit CEO Steve Huffman said a watch-and-listen experience for posts could enter testing later in 2026. [1] - Reddit says video products can expand its audience and move users into its app, where it monetizes them more effectively. [2] - The company has not disclosed feature-specific rules for creator consent, attribution, moderation, AI narration or revenue sharing.
Reddit is developing a new way to watch or listen to posts, bringing onto its own platform a format that has become popular on TikTok and other services: narrated Reddit stories paired with video. CEO Steve Huffman said during Reddit’s July 30 earnings call that a test could become available later in 2026.[1]
The planned product goes beyond Reddit’s existing video feed. Huffman described an emerging format resembling podcasts in which people read Reddit content, suggesting users could listen in the background rather than actively scroll. Reddit has not shown the interface or given a more precise test date.[1]
Growth plans meet unanswered creator questions #
Reddit’s shareholder letter confirms that it is building a “modernized video experience” centered on the platform’s conversations and communities. Management tied its broader product work to increasing session frequency, building daily habits and converting web visitors into app users, who Reddit says are more engaged and easier to monetize. The company did not announce ads or another revenue model specifically for the watch-and-listen feature.[2]
The rollout follows video in comments, launched in June. Those uploads are screened by Reddit’s safety systems before appearing and are limited to eligible public, safe-for-work communities. Reddit has not said whether the planned viewing experience will use the same restrictions or how moderators will control the distribution of narrated posts.[3]
Creator rights also remain unsettled at the product level. Reddit’s general terms say users retain ownership of their content but grant the company a broad license to modify, adapt, perform and display it, including for AI and machine-learning training. [4] Reddit has not explained whether authors will be notified, credited or allowed to opt out when posts are converted into audio or video.
Reddit’s existing Contributor Program pays eligible users according to awards and karma, rather than views or advertising revenue. [5] The company has not connected that program to the new format. It also has not confirmed that AI will narrate, select or assemble posts; Reddit separately says it uses AI in spam detection and moderation tools.
[6]## Companies mentioned
Further sources #
[[1] TechCrunch, “Reddit is testing a new way to watch — and listen to — its viral p… ↗](https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/31/reddit-is-testing-a-new-way-to-watch-and-listen-to-its-viral-posts/)
[[2] Reddit, Q2 2026 Letter to Shareholders, July 30, 2026. ↗](https://s203.q4cdn.com/380862485/files/doc_financials/2026/q2/Q2-26-Shareholder-Letter.pdf)
[[3] Reddit, “A New Way to Connect on Reddit: Video in Comments is Now Available for… ↗](https://redditinc.com/news/a-new-way-to-connect-on-reddit-video-in-comments-is-now-available-for-users)
[[4] Reddit User Agreement, effective July 1, 2026. ↗](https://redditinc.com/policies/user-agreement)
[[5] Reddit Help, “Understanding Contributor Earnings & Payouts,” updated July 17, 2… ↗](https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/17331720493972-Understanding-Contributor-Earnings-Payouts)
[[6] Reddit, “How We’re Keeping Reddit Real and Safe in the AI Era,” July 6, 2026. ↗](https://redditinc.com/news/how-were-keeping-reddit-real-and-safe-in-the-ai-era)
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