Reddit CEO Steve Huffman on how the company may challenge Google in its core business

Reddit CEO Steve Huffman is looking to challenge Google Search and for this, he is relying on the platform’s vast network of specialised communities and user-generated content. Huffman sees this data emerging as a significant challenger to Google's long-held dominance in the search market.
According to a report by Business Insider, Huffman believes that Reddit's unique value proposition – authentic information, diverse perspectives, and active discussions – is attracting users who are increasingly seeking answers and insights beyond traditional search engines.
Reddit is a vast network of over a million specialised communities (subreddits) that has become a resource for young users for finding authentic information in the digital age, the report notes, adding that the collaborative approach to knowledge sharing is attracting a growing number of users.
Reddit CEO says platform’s reliability can challenge Google Search
Huffman highlighted this growing trend where users intentionally use Google Search as a stepping stone to reach Reddit for information.
“People are going to Google with the intention of ending up on Reddit,” Huffman said at a conference this week hosted by The Wall Street Journal.
"And I think what's happening is people know that Reddit has answers, advice, perspectives on just about whatever you're looking for,” he added.

Interestingly, Google itself has contributed to Reddit's rise in search rankings by prioritising user-generated content in its algorithm, the report claims. This move, however, is attributed to Google's focus on providing diverse perspectives and experiences in search results, rather than a specific partnership with Reddit.
A Google spokesperson said that the company's research shows that “people often want to learn from others' experiences with a topic, so we've continued to make it easier to find helpful perspectives on Search when it's relevant to a query.”
Google and Reddit also announced a deal in February that allows Google to train its AI models using Reddit comments.