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Can Reddit Teach Us To Be Better Humans? The Answer Might Surprise You
Why Philosophers Are Turning to Reddit To Solve Moral Dilemmas
Social media is not noted for its ability to elevate the tone of most online interactions.
Comment sections have their trolls. Meta will no longer use fact checkers. X is owned by someone who makes questionable salutes at high-profile events.
In this environment, one of Reddit’s most popular subreddits is a refreshing change. In the Am I The Asshole? (AITA) thread, people ask one another what has gone wrong, and how, in a variety of situations. And they’re not the only ones learning about how humans navigate moral dilemmas; philosophers are starting to study the forum for answers to moral quandaries as well.
How did the AITA subreddit get its start?
Reddit is a popular social media platform that has been around since 2005 and promises a space where “millions of people get together to talk about any topic imaginable.” In January 2024, the site boasted more than 46 million active users.
Reddit claims to be the “front page of the Internet” and offers discussion threads on a seemingly endless number of topics. To use the site, readers will often visit “subreddits” of…
