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Hey everyone,
I wanted to share my experience and open a broader discussion about the growing corruption and double standards on Reddit, especially when it comes to VPN-related subreddits.
I used to run /r/NetflixViaVPN, a subreddit focused on helping people find which VPNs actually worked with streaming services like Netflix. I did include affiliate links — I was transparent about it — just like many other communities do across Reddit.
But then Reddit suddenly banned the entire subreddit for "spam," with no warning, no specific rule violation, and no appeal process. Meanwhile, /r/VPN is still going strong — even though the main moderator:
-Uses affiliate links all over the subreddit, including stickied recommendation posts
-Deletes huge chunks of user content, including anything that questions their promoted services
-Also runs /r/VPNreviews, effectively monopolizing the Reddit VPN space
-Acts as gatekeeper, directing traffic and affiliate revenue wherever they want
It’s one thing if Reddit wants to ban all affiliate-related promotion — I could live with that if it were enforced fairly. But instead, they shut down smaller, independently-run subs like mine while allowing /r/VPN to operate as a full-blown affiliate marketing funnel with corporate-style moderation and censorship.
At this point, my personal theory? /r/VPN is either run by someone with inside Reddit connections or directly by a Reddit employee. There’s just no way they'd allow that level of affiliate activity, user censorship, and moderation power without some kind of internal blessing.
It feels like Reddit isn’t against affiliate links — it’s just against competition. If you're not part of the inner circle, you're disposable.
Has anyone else seen similar patterns? Bans, censorship, or mods abusing their power to funnel traffic toward their own links? Let’s talk about it.