In a monumental shift that signals the complete TikTok-ification of social media, Reddit announced on July 31, 2026, that it is testing a new "video Reddit" experience that will allow users to watch and listen to viral posts in background mode.

The pioneering feature represents Reddit's latest attempt to compete in the short-form video landscape, transforming text-based community discussions into consumable video and audio content that mirrors the viral storytelling format already popular on TikTok and other platforms.

The Evolution of Reddit Content Consumption

CEO Steve Huffman revealed the development during the company's second-quarter earnings call, acknowledging that users are already consuming Reddit content in video format on other platforms. "There is an emerging content type elsewhere on the internet of, basically, podcasts where people read Reddit content," Huffman explained. "I think this version of, like, listened-to or spoken Reddit can be really engaging, as well."

The ubiquitous trend of Reddit stories being narrated over unrelated videos has become a cultural phenomenon, with 19.6 million posts labeled #reddit and 9.9 million labeled #redditstories on TikTok alone. These typically feature text-to-speech narration of viral Reddit stories paired with gameplay footage or cooking content.

Following the Industry-Wide Trend

The announcement positions Reddit alongside a growing list of platforms adopting TikTok-like features. Facebook recently announced plans to test a full-screen video experience, while streaming services including Netflix, Disney+, Peacock, and HBO Max have added short video feeds for discovery and engagement.

Even professional networking platform LinkedIn has introduced short video feeds, demonstrating the inescapable influence of TikTok's format on the entire social media ecosystem. Amazon has similarly implemented short video feeds for shopping inspiration.

Building on Recent Video Success

Reddit's move into native video content follows the June 2026 launch of video in comments, which the company reports already accounts for more than 10% of video posts on the platform. This early success has apparently emboldened the company to expand its video offerings further.

While specific details about how the video Reddit experience will be integrated into the main app remain ambiguous, Huffman indicated that the company will have something available for testing "later this year," suggesting a potential rollout before the end of 2026.

As Reddit prepares to enter this new phase of content delivery, the platform faces the challenge of maintaining its unique community-driven identity while adapting to the prevailing video-first consumption habits that have come to define modern social media engagement.