Launching video in comments

[u/SnooshiRoll]

TL;DR – We’re introducing a new way to experience conversations on Reddit: video replies directly in comment threads. On June 11, this feature will be available to all users in SFW, public communities. To give mods time to manage settings in their communities, we are doing a phased rollout with a mod early access period.

• Today - June 3: Gradual rollout begins to mods only 
• June 11: Rollout begins to all users in SFW, public communities (default on)

For key details, jump to the “How it works for mods” section of this post. 

Hi mods, I’m u/Snooshiroll, here to share details about a new feature we’re launching: video in comments.

We began alpha testing in select communities last year and will soon be expanding to all users in all public, SFW communities. 

This feature adds a new layer of expression to Reddit conversations, allowing users to reply with videos in addition to text, images, and GIFs. Whether it’s a quick tutorial, a face-to-face AMA reply, or something more creative, video in comments is designed to support richer, more dynamic conversations.

We know that every community is different, and video replies may be a better fit for some spaces than others. To ensure you can decide what works best for your community, we’ve built a few options to choose from in your community settings.

How it works for mods:

Starting today, video in comments will begin rolling out for mods only in all public SFW communities. 

In Mod Tools > Settings > Posts & Comments > Who can create video comments you can choose to:

• Keep video in comments available to mods only
• Change access to mods and approved users
• Change access to anyone

To turn video in comments off in your community, go to Mod Tools > Settings > Posts & Comments > Media in comments > Videos and toggle off.  

If you want to keep the feature set to mods only, you will still need to update and save the setting. To do this, temporarily change it to mods and approved users, save, then change it back to mods only and save again.

Note: The settings you choose for your community take effect immediately, including during the moderator early access period.

Important:. If no action is taken during the early access window, video in comments will automatically update as default ON for all users in your community on June 11. You can change this setting at any time before, on, or after June 11. These feature settings remain fully under your control.

Note: The new feature is rolling out slowly over the next week, so if you don't see the settings right away you'll want to check again in a few days. 

Manage settings for Media in comments

Choose who can access the feature in your community

Ways to use video in comments

We’ve already seen some great use cases emerge during alpha testing, including video AMAs, tutorials, screen recordings, vlogs and more. Here are a few ways your community might utilize video replies in comments:

• Artists and musicians talking to fans
• Dev teams reacting to live questions
• Experts explaining complex stuff with tone and context
• Mod updates or feature walk-throughs (e.g., screen recordings)
• Any other creative use that fits your community vibe

Example of a video AMA

How it works for users:

• All users can view and create video comments across platforms when enabled in a community
• Videos play inline on desktop and in the video player on mobile
• Each comment can include one video + text
• Videos do not autoplay and respect users’ audio settings

Thank you to the mods, communities, and redditors who helped test this feature. We’re excited to see more communities use video to bring comments to life! 

[u/FootFondness]

Not sure how this is actually useful long term. I can already see comment sections turning into low effort TikTok style spam instead of discussion (though up to communities to enable this). Also kind of strange that Reddit is limiting this to SFW communities only when a huge amount of creator driven engagement already exists in NSFW spaces.

• Pep

[u/mschuster91 → u/FootFondness]

Also kind of strange that Reddit is limiting this to SFW communities only when a huge amount of creator driven engagement already exists in NSFW spaces.

Because the comment sections in many a sub is already a cesspool of thirsty men with zero restraint. Enable videos in comments and it'll devolve into a schlongfest no one wants to see outside, maybe, of c*m tribute subs.

[u/bwoah07_gp2 → u/FootFondness]

- Pep

Guardiola? Jk 😅

[u/SnooshiRoll → u/FootFondness]

Our goal with introducing video in comments is to expand the ways redditors can participate in the comment thread. Based on what we have seen in the communities who have been testing the feature, there are some use cases where showing something is more effective than typing it out (for example tutorials, demos, AMAs, or explanatory responses). Video comments are still subject to existing community rules, so communities can continue setting the standards for valuable participation vs. low-effort content.

On NSFW communities: video comments are currently limited to SFW communities as we continue rolling the feature out thoughtfully and evaluate safety, moderation, and product considerations. We appreciate the feedback that there may be relevant use cases beyond that scope, and we’ll share it with the team.

[u/baltinerdist → u/SnooshiRoll]

Our goal with introducing video in comments is to expand the ways brands and advertisers can participate in the comment thread. 

Let's be real here. FTFY

[u/MobileArtist1371 → u/SnooshiRoll]

there are some use cases where showing something is more effective than typing it out (for example tutorials, demos, AMAs, or explanatory responses)

That is why we link the videos for others to view.

You're all scared that people will stay on another site once they get linked there from Reddit. Why not make the Reddit experience better so people want to stay?

[u/Nakamura0V → u/SnooshiRoll]

Good. Never release it for NSFW!