What Are They?
Reddit Snark pages are communities on Reddit dedicated to critiquing celebrities, influencers, and regular people with a sizable following. While they were created to poke fun at questionable celebrity and influencer behaviour; bullying, harassment, and doxxing run rampant on Snark pages – entertaining for some, distressing for others.
The Dangers
Snark pages hold a dark, toxic underbelly that can quickly get out of control.
What might begin as an innocent observation, can quickly evolve into a thread of cruel commentary. From physical appearance to fashion choices to personality type, critique often goes too far.
And because Reddit's anonymity allows users to engage in hate-fueled banter without fear of repercussion, it fosters an environment where responsibility for harm caused to others is typically avoided.
Illegal Behaviour
Snark pages raise a big question of privacy; users may overstep ethical boundaries by resorting to tactics like doxxing (the posting of personal information online) and severe online harassment against celebrities and influencers.
One example is when influencer Hannah Stella's address was leaked and posted in her comment section on more than one occasion.
Influencer Trisha Paytas also had her personal information leaked, including information about which doctors and businesses she visits.
There have also been cases when targeted influencers dox the Redditors spreading personal information to ‘get back at them’. Van-life influencer Brianna Madia, for instance, collaborated with a digital investigator to expose the identity of her Reddit ‘snarkers’.
Positives
Criticism isn’t always bad. Constructive criticism, for instance, can generate meaningful change and allow people to improve and grow.
While it’s fair to say that there is a fine line between negative and constructive criticism, some argue that it can justified, especially for celebrities and influencers who display questionable behaviour. Reddit users often comb heavily edited photos of celebrities and influencers, pointing out inconsistencies, which serves as a nice reminder that much of what we see online is doctored.
Snark pages also facilitate a sense of community between members who would otherwise be strangers. Sharing a common interest, no matter how niche, brings people together. Snark pages are no different.
Why Snark Pages Thrive
So why do Snark pages continue to thrive? Most Reddit content is generated by its users. While this is much the same for other social media platforms, Reddit differs in its use of community moderators, everyday users who dedicate time to enforcing community guidelines and subreddit rules.
The platform’s legal liability for user-generated content ultimately depends on the jurisdiction and the specific legal statutes of each country. In the US, tech firms typically enjoy immunity from user-generated content thanks to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (CDA), which defines platforms as impartial.
In the UK, however, the Online Safety Act means companies have a responsibility to remove harmful user-generated content from their platforms. It is under this legislation that Reddit (might) find itself facing consequences.
Moderators have the freedom and authority to determine the boundaries of acceptable conduct within their respective subreddits, and they do not need to provide a reason for permanently banning someone. Reddit claims to have no responsibility for any actions taken by moderators, but it can limit or revoke a user’s ability to moderate.
The result of community moderation is that each subreddit has different rules and ethics that reflect personal interpretations and biases. When content moderation varies massively between subreddits, this presents a significant challenge for Reddit and the Online Safety Act.
Why Does It Matter?
Snark pages harm people in the real world and foster an ‘arm's length’ approach to hateful content, which means those who bully and harass face little to no consequences. We are concerned that casual hate from Snark pages and beyond promotes a lack of empathy and understanding for children and young people growing up in a digital age. After all, if the subreddit moderators say it’s okay, then it must be, right?
