AI search algorithms found to support growth of Reddit

Luke Meredith

Reddit, the online platform for discussion, has recently overtaken TikTok to become the fourth most popular social media service in the UK.

Changing online searching tendencies and new artificial intelligence (AI) search algorithms have been partly credited for its rise.

According to Ofcom, around 60% of UK internet users are now familiar with Reddit, up from around 33% in 2023. Reddit is particularly popular among the 18-24 age range, and over half of its UK users are women.

A major factor in Reddit’s growth on the internet over the past few years has been the growth of AI in search engines, as well as chatbots such as ChatGPT. Reddit has deals with both Google and ChatGPT’s owner OpenAI, allowing the companies’ AI tools to cite the platform as a source for its answers to user questions. In fact, Reddit is the single most cited website in Google’s AI Overviews, which is likely a big cause of its growth.

Widespread shifts in overall internet habitats, particularly from Gen Z internet users, have also been attributed to Reddit’s growth. While Reddit is the single most cited website by AI algorithms, primarily for its qualities as a hub for human answers and knowledge, this is also the reason why some users choose to bypass the increasingly AI-driven search engines, which have had issues with presenting accurate results, deciding to go straight to the original source instead.

From an SEO (search engine optimisation) perspective, it seems pretty clear that Reddit’s growth since AI’s popularity boom in search engines highlights the importance of being identified by search algorithms. At Engage Web, we strive to help our SEO clients reap the potential rewards of AI search algorithms. For excellent AI SEO services, reach out to our team now.

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Luke Meredith

Content Editor at Engage Web

At home in both the digital sector and the world of communications, Luke thrives on deadlines and has held roles in healthcare, retail and digital marketing, gaining a sound knowledge of a wide range of sectors. He’s a massive swot as well, holding a first-class degree in BA Communication and Media, and now uses his writing skills and keen editorial eye in his role as Content Editor here. Luke helps to oversee our clients’ content requirements, while also looking after a pool of freelance writers across three continents.