Google's AI obsession turned Reddit into a spammer's paradise
ai chatbots now cite reddit more than any other source, creating a new wave of seo spam as marketers flood threads with fake endorsements.
data from semrush confirms reddit is the top-cited source for ai models, which rely on its human discussions to answer queries. this value has triggered a surge in automated seo spam, such as the honeydew labs bot that posted fake product reviews across skincare subreddits to trick ai algorithms. moderators are escalating bans and automated filters to combat these sophisticated astroturfing attempts. as ai overviews increasingly handle commercial searches, the integrity of platforms like reddit hangs in the balance against automated manipulation.