Reddit has just unveiled its plan to reward its top contributors with real-world money. The newly introduced Contributor Program is set to change the dynamics of content creation on the platform, offering Redditors the opportunity to monetize their awarded content on a monthly basis. In addition to this financial incentive, Reddit is also overhauling its post and comment rewards system by phasing out Reddit Coins and associated awards in favor of a gold-centric approach.

The Contributor Program is an exciting opportunity for Reddit’s most dedicated users. To be eligible, redditors must be 18 years or older, reside in an eligible location (initially limited to the United States), maintain an account “in good standing,” and meet specific karma minimums. Here’s a breakdown of how the program works:

• Standard Contributors: These users, who will earn 90 cents for each gold award received, must have accrued at least 10 gold awards and between 100 and 4,999 karma in the past 12 months.
• Top Contributors: The cream of the crop, top contributors, will earn a full dollar for each gold award they receive. To qualify for this elite status, Redditors need a minimum of 10 gold awards and over 5,000 karma from the preceding 12 months. Those who fall below these thresholds will need to strive for these goals before becoming eligible for real-world payments.

To check your eligibility for the program, you can simply navigate to the program page through your profile menu. If you meet the requirements, you’ll find the “Get Verified to Start Earning” button highlighted and ready to click.

In tandem with this game-changing program, Reddit has introduced some interface modifications to underline the significance of gold on the platform. Gilded posts and comments will now feature a gold upvote icon in lieu of the standard one. Additionally, Reddit now allows users to award and purchase gold directly from a post. On the Reddit mobile app, users can long-press on the upvote icon for a post or comment to choose between giving one and 25 gold awards. Each gold award will cost users $2, and they can purchase up to 25 of them for a maximum of $49. This new gold system is already available on mobile and is expected to roll out to web users later this year.

Reddit’s recent changes to its API have made it significantly harder for third-party apps to track engagement on the platform. With anecdotal reports suggesting a decrease in engagement following these API changes, Reddit’s latest moves appear to be a strategic effort to incentivize and retain prolific contributors. This initiative mirrors the creator programs seen on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, as Reddit aims to foster engagement and content creation on its platform.