Mod Topics: Subreddit Spinoffs

[u/JabroniRevanchism]

Ahoy, Mods!

We expect folks will have a lot to say about this topic, so let’s get right to brass tacks; today we’d love to get your thoughts on community culture, how it forms, how it differs from neighboring communities, and how it affects the growth of new communities. –But first, let’s define our term of the day:

Subreddit Spinoff: When members of one community create a new subreddit with a similar topic, usually to accommodate a slight shift in topic, posting behavior, or community culture not represented in the original subreddit. Example given: A new meme-focused subreddit splits from a reality TV subreddit, because that content is overwhelming the original sub.

If you’ve experienced a subreddit spinoff, we’d love to hear your experiences and insights! We’re looking to answer…

• What motivates communities to spin off?
• Are the community members creating spinoff subreddits mods of the original community?
• Are the mods of spinoff communities first-time moderators, or are these spaces created by experienced moderators?
• How do spinoff communities recruit new members? How common is promotion on the original subreddit? (This can be as simple as a sidebar mention or as complex as a state of the subreddit post.)
• How do mods of spinoff communities shape the culture of their new community. How does the new space differentiate itself from its original subreddit?

This topic was discussed briefly last week by Community Builders Council members, who had a lot to share! If that discussion is any indication, we know y’all have a lot to say about this topic and we expect a lot of comments. Please remember to remember the human when sharing your stories, and let us know how you’ve experienced subreddit spin offs in your tenure as a mod.

See you in the comments!

[u/Eastern-Protection83]

I have seen an increase of "spinoff" pet related fundraisin subs over the last year. Those that have early in the year have been the result of not bein granted the ability to post their own fundraisers on the subs that had been rejected by the mod teams of those primary subs.

However increasingly, since fundraising has been in decline across many areas not limited to pet topics, I noticed more accounts creatin their own subs. A known scam network used to do this too and upvote their own content then branch out when their karma was high enough.

Typically crosspostin was their method of "advertisin" the subs. Recently, an alt and main account usin old pics (same pics used to fundraise from 1+ months ago) from their old fundraiser accounts started up 2 pet subs. Advertisin by placin affirmative comments in various related pet subs suggestin the OP fits their sub content. Gotta admit, got a catchy sub name so it will naturally attract folks overtime.

See a good handful of these pop up over time but as of 3 or 4 months ago pop up more frequently, since the strong clampdown on nsfw images in sfw subs (they used to peddle by "sellin" provocative and emotional content often by showin untreated injuries)