Reddit's traffic is down 13%, thanks to Google's AI Overviews (www.businessinsider.com)

Reddit has reported a significant 13% decline in global search traffic from Google between October 2025 and October 2026, as users increasingly turn to AI-powered solutions, like Google's AI Overviews, instead of traditional search results. This shift has prompted Reddit to transition to a primarily logged-in user experience, positioning its focus on attracting high-value and engaged users rather than chasing total visit numbers. Despite the decline in traffic, Reddit's weekly active unique users rose by 16% year-over-year, indicating a shift in user engagement dynamics. The implications of this trend are noteworthy for the AI and machine learning community. CEO Steve Huffman highlighted that while Google’s AI Overviews are diverting traffic, they are not necessarily detrimental to Reddit’s relevance or future. The company has signaled that its primary goal is to leverage logged-in user engagement, which is more lucrative. As Reddit prepares to launch Reddit Reviews—an organized platform for product recommendations based on user input—it is clear that the platform is adapting to the changing landscape, leaning into more personalized user interactions while grappling with the evolving impacts of AI on online search behavior.