Source: Another Thought
Reddit's algorithmic moderation systems now police authenticity so aggressively that they reject the very subjects they're meant to protect. Platforms have weaponized "realness" as a competitive differentiator against deepfakes and impersonation, but the result inverts the actual consumer problem: rather than solving fraud, the systems create friction that makes legitimate connection harder. Celebrities and users navigate byzantine verification processes that don't meaningfully distinguish real from fake. The pattern shows trust infrastructure functioning as a moat-building tool rather than a consumer safeguard, where platform policy contradicts stated values the moment engagement mechanics require it.