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What This Says About the Internet Today.

Recently, I posted a factual piece about blue whales on Reddit, including a source link to my own article with more details. Within seconds, it was automatically removed by their filter. No warning, no explanation. Why? The answer is simple, and troubling: major platforms want you to stay, not leave.

The reality behind the filters
Reddit’s automated moderation doesn’t check for intent – it checks for patterns. And a pattern like short teaser + “Read More” + link to your own site sits at the very top of their spam triggers.
Their argument: protection against self-promotion and mass spam.
In reality: genuine, original content gets blocked if it doesn’t stay entirely inside the platform.

The “walled garden” strategy
Reddit isn’t alone. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, all share one main goal: keep users inside their ecosystem for as long as possible.
Every outbound click means lost ad revenue and less control over your attention. So, external links are discouraged or outright filtered.

Why this is harmful

• Independent creators, researchers, and journalists lose reach.

• The open nature of the internet is eroded.

• Conversations are increasingly limited to what fits inside a platform’s walls.

The irony
Big platforms happily benefit from inbound traffic (via Google, social shares), yet make it difficult for their own users to return the favor. As a result, valuable sources vanish from the online conversation – not because they’re bad, but because they live outside the walls.

Call to action
The internet should be a network of connected knowledge. If we accept platforms blocking each other, and us, we’re left with isolated islands. Share, link, connect, even beyond the walls. That’s the only way to keep the web truly open.

Sources and further reading:
Read on Vero Q&A