Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Reddit To Tighten User Verification System

• Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
• Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

Reddit’s CEO, Steve Huffman, shared a post this Monday announcing that the platform will add new verification systems to ensure users are human. The decision was made just a few days after researchers deployed AI bots on the platform .

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

• Reddit’s CEO announced that they will introduce new user verification systems provided by third-party services.
• The platform will require more data from users to prove they are not AI bots.
• The decision comes just a few days after researchers deployed AI bots without permission and raised concerns among users.

In a post on Reddit , Huffman reflected on the company’s recent Q1 earnings and included a section addressing AI usage, its involvement on the platform, and Reddit’s response.

He acknowledged the power of the technology—particularly in areas like safety, moderation, translation, and summarization—but also noted its risks and the company’s concerns.

Huffman emphasized the elements that make Reddit unique, including its human community, user trust, and features that support anonymity.

“Unwelcome AI in communities is a serious concern. It is the worry I hear most often these days from users and mods alike,” wrote Huffman. “Reddit works because it’s human. It’s one of the few places online where real people share real opinions. That authenticity is what gives Reddit its value.”

The researchers were able to easily create fake accounts, as the platform requires very little information from users. Huffman noted that the freedom to tell stories and share personal experiences anonymously was one of the platform’s defining features—but added that Reddit will now begin requiring more information from users.

“To keep Reddit human and to meet evolving regulatory requirements, we are going to need a little more information,” added the CEO. “Specifically, we will need to know whether you are a human, and in some locations, if you are an adult. But we never want to know your name or who you are.”

Huffman explained that the new user verification systems will be provided in collaboration with “various third-party services,” focusing only on essential information.

During the past few months, Reddit has also been criticized for its lack of strong age verification systems to prevent children from accessing the platform and reaching sensitive content. The UK recently launched an investigation , and the Australian online safety regulator ESafety recently reported that children can easily bypass age verification systems —Reddit was among the platforms mentioned.

Image by Freepik

The Rise of VR Raves and Digital Drug Culture

• Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
• Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

According to a report by WIRED a man in Dublin spent 60 consecutive hours wearing a VR headset, and dancing in the virtual environment after consuming ketamine, cocaine, cannabis, and alcohol. WIRED reports that he never leaves his apartment.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

• VR clubs mimic real nightlife without physical costs or consequences.
• A 2023 study links VRChat to reduced loneliness and mental health benefits.
• Experts warn drug-fueled VR trips may worsen disorientation and post-trip anxiety.

“If you’re not able to self-moderate, it’s endless,” O’Rourke, a 38-year-old IT worker from Dublin, told WIRED. “You’re not going to win; you’re not going to see the end of the party,” he added.

Since the COVID-19 lockdowns, VR raving has taken off. Platforms like VRChat now host thousands of partygoers each weekend, as noted in a Reddit post .

WIRED reports that VR raving has exploded in popularity since the COVID-19 lockdowns. Each Weekend, thousands of partygoers attend virtual events on VRChat. Virtual clubs on these platforms replicate real-world nightclubs, minus the costs, rules, and risks of physical nightlife. But with freedom comes excess.

“There’s a lot of weird [stuff] going on, and it can be hard to adjust, but if you do, it’s magical,” O’Rourke says to WIRED. He’s logged almost 1,800 hours in VR and runs a virtual party called Euro-Corp.

But he admits going too far. “I accidentally did a heroic dose (of mushrooms) […] I haven’t taken shrooms since.” He now prefers ketamine, which he says enhances the virtual experience.

The technology allows users to become anyone or anything. Ru, a trans DJ in Ohio, finds safety and self-expression in the scene. “I get sexually assaulted far less often,” she says to WIRED. “Go listen to your local people, and then come to any random club in VR; you’re going to be shocked that your local DJs suck ass.”

Luna, 21, from the Netherlands, found community in VR when she was depressed and isolated. WIRED reported that after months of virtual partying, she even met her boyfriend through a rave organized by a VR club.

A 2023 study, titled “Social Virtual Reality as a Mental Health Tool” , explored how people consciously use VRChat to support their well-being. In interviews and surveys, participants said VRChat helped them reduce loneliness, improve confidence, and even cope with anxiety. The researchers found that VRChat served, for some, as an informal therapeutic environment, boosting social skills, easing depressive thoughts, and offering a safe space for social experimentation.

The study highlights the potential of VR as a digital mental health tool, particularly for men who often struggle to seek help offline. Still, researchers caution against overreliance. VR can foster connection, but escaping into digital worlds shouldn’t replace real-world relationships.

Experts warn of further risks when it comes to VR raves. Maria Balaet, a researcher at Imperial College London, says drug use in VR may intensify bad trips and cause disorientation. “Having a bad trip in VR is probably worse than a bad trip outside of VR,” she says to WIRED. “Once one comes out of the VR environment their body and mind need to readjust to the world too, and that is taxing in addition to the bad trip itself,” she added.

While some see a utopia, others see a trap. As Balaet puts it, “I’m not sure how long one can stay in this state without feeling disconnected,” as reported by WIRED.