What happened
On March 7, 2023, Reddit introduced split 'Read' and 'Watch' feeds in its mobile app, letting users toggle between text-oriented posts and an algorithmically generated, vertical-scrolling stream of short-form video reminiscent of TikTok and YouTube Shorts. The dedicated 'Watch' feed gave users an explicit way to consume only video content rather than encountering it mixed into a general feed.
The feature began in testing with a wider rollout planned in the following weeks, and it formed part of a broader push toward simplified, format-specific content discovery. The move reflected Reddit's continued investment in video, a priority dating back to its 2017 native-video launch and its 2020 acquisition of Dubsmash, as the company competed for attention in a market increasingly oriented around short vertical clips.