Reddit users can breathe a sigh of relief as CEO Steve Huffman has confirmed that the old Reddit layout will remain online indefinitely. In a recent post, Huffman jokingly announced that the old Reddit would be shut down at the end of the month, only to reveal it was a prank. Instead, he assured users that the platform will continue to support the old layout as long as it remains popular.

The old Reddit layout, which was built in the mid-2000s, has been a beloved part of the platform's identity. Despite its limitations, including being difficult to develop and scale, Huffman acknowledged that it is still widely used and cherished by many users. The decision to keep the old Reddit online is a testament to the platform's commitment to its community and its willingness to listen to user feedback.

In addition to the news about the old Reddit, Huffman's post also outlined several other planned changes to the platform. These include "core product improvements" such as making it easier to create subreddits and evolving the popular r/popular feature. The company is also shifting its focus towards community cultivation, with a greater emphasis on providing moderators with better tools, including AI-driven automation.

Huffman acknowledged that the introduction of AI-driven automation has raised concerns among users and moderators about the potential for unwelcome AI in communities. However, he emphasized that Reddit's focus is on keeping the platform a trusted place for human conversation, and that AI will be used to support, rather than replace, human moderators.

Another significant change announced by Huffman is that Reddit will begin asking users for more identifying information to meet evolving regulatory requirements. This will include verifying users' humanity and, in some locations, their age. However, Huffman reassured users that the platform will not collect any personal information, such as names or identities, and will work with third-party services to obtain the necessary information.

In related news, Reddit also announced improvements to its Chat feature, including the ability to add users to an allowlist. This follows the company's decision to replace user PMs with Chat, which was announced in March.

The news about the old Reddit's continued availability is likely to be welcomed by the platform's dedicated user base. As Huffman noted, the old Reddit may not be the most modern or scalable, but it holds a special place in the hearts of many users. By committing to keep it online, Reddit is demonstrating its commitment to its community and its willingness to preserve the platform's unique character.

As Reddit continues to evolve and adapt to changing user needs and regulatory requirements, it will be interesting to see how the platform balances its commitment to its community with its need to innovate and grow. One thing is clear, however: the old Reddit is here to stay, and that's music to the ears of many users.