While Reddit has long been known for its reliable forum-type setup, it underwent a facelift aimed at increasing the platform's interactivity in December 2021.

Reddit has introduced a new range of features which include animations, real-time indicators, and comment notifications.

But, how exactly will it work?

Reddit Is Becoming More Interactive

In a blog post on 1 December, Reddit announced three new interactive features which will be available on desktop alongside its iOS and Android apps:

  • Voting and comment count animations.
  • Typing and reading indicators.
  • New comment pills.

The company said that these features are aimed at making the platform "look and feel more lively and in the moment".

Here is how each feature works and why you should be excited about them...

Related: What Is Reddit and How Does It Work?

Voting and Comment Count Animations

Previously, upvotes on posts on the Reddit feed were static numbers that only changed when you refreshed the page or clicked through to the post from your feed. With the update, these votes will go up or down in real-time with an accompanying animation.

Reddit - Voting Animation
Image Credit: Reddit

While it doesn't really change the numbers themselves, it does add a sort-of game-like experience. Not only does this encourage users to press the up and downvote buttons, but it also plays well into Reddit's existing Karma feature.

Comment numbers will also have a similar animation, such as going up when more Redditors join the conversation.

But if you find this new Reddit feature distracting or unnecessary, don't worry. You can also turn off the voting and comment count animations under user animation settings.

Typing and Reading Indicators

With its update, Reddit also introduced interaction indicators for the first time on its platform. Typing indicators will now appear on top of its comment box in the form of anonymous avatars.

Reddit typing Indicator in comments
Image Credit: Reddit

Similarly, a reading indicator also appears when more than five Redditors are reading a post at a time. On the lower left portion, the number of readers who are currently on the post will appear alongside their anonymous avatars.

Reddit Reading Indicator
Image Credit: Reddit

In many ways, the introduction of interaction indicators such as typing and reading can encourage users to participate in ongoing discussions. Similar to how messaging platforms show if someone is typing or reading your message, this new feature can make commenting on Reddit feel like being part of a group chat.

Related: How to Search Reddit Effectively: Useful Tips and Tricks to Know

New Comment Pill on Reddit

Anyone on Reddit knows that the comment section can often be more interesting than the post itself. With its update, Reddit will now display how many new comments a post is receiving when other Redditors are viewing a post's comment section.

Reddit New Comment Pill
Image Credit: Reddit

Once users click the new comment pill, the comment section will automatically sort itself to highlight comments as they are being posted. Through this feature, Redditors can easily stay updated or join in on a quick-fire discussion.

Related: The Top 10 Highest-Rated Reddit Posts of All Time

The introduction of this comment pill feature is also a change from its usual way of ordering comments. Instead of highlighting the posts with the highest number of net votes first, this new comment pill encourages real-time, chronological sorting.

Reddit Encourages Real-Time Connection With Its New Interactive Features

Coming soon after the launch of its updated camera tools, Redditors are likely going to experience more ways to not just create content in real-time, but also to engage with it. By implementing these new interactive features across its various channels, Redditors can enjoy a more dynamic social media experience.

If you're not a fan of the changes, you can always opt out of the animations to return to a more traditional Reddit format.