Reddit Steals Nearly Half Of Digg’s Traffic
In the latter part of August, Digg and Reddit spent most of their time sending about the same amount of traffic to sites in the Chitika network. Since Digg 4’s launch on the 25th, however, Digg’s traffic has dropped off significantly, while Reddit’s has risen. Some of this can be attributed to Reddit’s well-publicized assault on Digg’s front page, making the most coveted spots on Digg link to Reddit content.
Here’s how the Digg/Reddit split has looked since the 18th, based on a sample of traffic across our network:
| Date | Digg % | Reddit % |
|---|---|---|
| 8/18/2010 | 48% | 52% |
| 8/19/2010 | 50% | 50% |
| 8/20/2010 | 47% | 53% |
| 8/21/2010 | 52% | 48% |
| 8/22/2010 | 52% | 48% |
| 8/23/2010 | 52% | 48% |
| 8/24/2010 | 52% | 48% |
| 8/25/2010 | 33% | 67% |
| 8/26/2010 | 11% | 89% |
| 8/27/2010 | 33% | 67% |
| 8/28/2010 | 13% | 87% |
| 8/29/2010 | 34% | 66% |
| 8/30/2010 | 32% | 68% |
With Reddit’s assault on Digg combining with many Digg users’ vocal disapproval of the new version, it seems that the site has a ways to go if they want to return to their position as the preeminent traffic-generating news site.
Contact
Daniel Ruby
Research Director, Online Insights
Chitika, Inc.
+866.441.7203 x966
press@chitika.com
There a are quite a few misconceptions out there in news regarding the digg fiasco:
1) Digg users are not afraid of change.
2) What digg users do not like is the core site mechanics have fundamentally changed in a way that marginalizes digg user’s democratic control over front page content.
3) Reddit did not organize the “assault” on digg. Digg users themselves did.
I don’t think reddit is the answer and I think Digg has too big of a Ego to switch back, plus the owner is gone now and it’s corporate stupidity running the show.
My guess is another big company will come in with all the intel floating around and take over.
Digg will be good, but I think the niche social sites is where it’s at. Where a community with similar interests can interact and stay engaged with the community. Sits like http://www.ballhyped.com will continue to grow if if it continues to put the community first, and remain true to its core competency.