AMA (Ask Me Anything)

AMA stands for "Ask Me Anything," an interview format in which a person invites the public to post questions and answers them directly, usually in a single thread. The format is most closely associated with Reddit's r/IAmA community, founded in May 2009, where notable figures, professionals, and ordinary people with unusual experiences open themselves up to unscripted questions from anyone. Participants typically verify their identity with proof (a photo or social-media confirmation), then reply to as many of the highest-voted questions as time allows, giving the exchange a crowd-curated, town-hall quality rather than the controlled feel of a traditional press interview.

AMAs have become one of Reddit's defining cultural exports and a recognized public-relations and outreach tool. The most famous example is U.S. President Barack Obama's 2012 AMA, conducted while campaigning for re-election; the surge of traffic reportedly reached millions of page views and overwhelmed parts of the site. Other high-profile guests have included Bill Gates and Bernie Sanders, alongside scientists, authors, and people with rare jobs or life experiences. The format has also drawn criticism when celebrity AMAs feel like promotional appearances with evasive or ghost-written answers, prompting ongoing debate about authenticity and the line between genuine engagement and marketing.