CMV: Reddit didn’t remove the Trending bar for “UX testing” it was a convenient way to reduce mass awareness of major events

I know the official line is “we’re always experimenting with UI,” but I think removing the Trending bar from Popular did something very specific: it cut down on “incidental news exposure” for people who aren’t subscribed to politics/news subreddits.

I can’t prove executive intent, but the timing felt convenient. When big geopolitical events are unfolding, a Trending module functions like a public square: it funnels lots of users into the same topics at the same time. Removing it breaks that flow and makes major stories easier to miss unless you already follow news communities elsewhere.

That matters because many other platforms are algorithmically curated in ways that can be heavily influenced by engagement incentives and amplification systems. Without a simple “what’s happening right now” surface on Reddit, the average user is less likely to stumble into broad event coverage and discussion.

If this was purely UX-driven, why not:

offer a toggle (show/hide Trending),

replace it with a neutral “Top stories” feed