Tencent invests in Reddit as global battle with Bytedance escalates

Chinese tech giant Tencent is rumored to have contributed $150 million to US social news and discussion platform Reddit’s $300 million Series D, leading to heated discussions over the possibility of future censorship on the platform.

Although still unconfirmed, the news has sparked a backlash from Redditors who have expressed concerns that the site, which is famously known as a home for free speech and many niche communities, could face a purge after receiving investment from Tencent. Users responded to the rumors by reposting content that would be censored in mainland China, including photos of Tank Man.

But some are less worried as the $150 million investment would give Tencent a minor stake. “Someone with a 5% stake in a company isn’t ‘switching people out’. They have ZERO control,” a Reddit user posted.

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