5 Moderators Control 92 of Reddit’s Top 500 Subreddits

Did you know that just 5 moderators are in charge of 92 out of Reddit’s top 500 subreddits?

This isn’t speculation—it’s a verified fact. These moderators wield significant influence over the content and discussions millions of users engage with daily.

This concentration of power has sparked conversations, as seen in a Hacker News thread, where users discuss the implications of such control.

Some moderators openly use the same account across multiple large subreddits, making their influence visible. Others operate more covertly, using separate accounts for each subreddit they manage. This tactic makes their dominance less obvious to the average user. Reddit’s internal systems can detect these connections through IP addresses, but savvy moderators use VPNs or proxies with anti-detect browsers to mask their identities.

This model of control is not just a coincidence—it’s part of how many subreddits operate.

The deeper issue lies in the structure itself: those in power also control the systems meant to check and balance that power.

Reddit’s Power Structure Mirrors Global Trends

Reddit’s moderation system isn’t an isolated case. It reflects a broader pattern known as the Pareto Principle, often referred to as the 80/20 rule. This principle explains how a small minority often holds the majority of resources or influence.

In Reddit’s case, a tiny fraction of moderators shapes the experience for millions of users. This dynamic isn’t limited to online platforms—it’s a recurring theme in various aspects of society.

Global Power Concentration

This pattern of concentrated power repeats on a global scale.

A handful of billionaires—including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Bernard Arnault, Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffett, Mukesh Ambani, and Bill Gates—control a disproportionate share of the world’s wealth.

Their financial power far surpasses that of entire populations combined. This imbalance is evident in Forbes lists, company valuations, and the flow of capital in global markets.

Corporate Power Shapes Industries

At first glance, most mainstream news outlets appear independent. However, 4–5 major corporations own the majority of them.

The online dating industry follows a similar model. Match Group owns most of the popular dating apps.

Even professional wrestling operates under this structure. Companies like WWE, AEW, NJPW, and TNA dominate the industry.

Governments and Corporations: A Symbiotic Relationship

Enterprise tech firms like Palantir and SpaceX rely heavily on funding from a small group of elite sources, primarily the U.S. government.

The government’s unique ability to print currency and issue contracts without strict budgetary constraints gives it unparalleled financial power.

Political power follows this rule too - a select few people control entire nations.

Varun Mayya in his recent video "I Spent 5 Days With The 0.0001% In A Secret City..." hinted about this.

Internet Platforms Dominate Web Traffic

A few websites absorb the vast majority of global internet traffic. Platforms like Wikipedia and YouTube lead this group, serving as primary sources of information and entertainment for billions of users.

The same trend holds true for Generative AI companies. Only 5 key players—ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and DeepSeek—dominate usage in this rapidly growing field.

This pattern extends to the advertising world as well. A handful of platforms—Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Google Display Network, TikTok Ads, and a few others—dominate the entire market. These key players control the majority of ad spend and reach, leaving limited space for smaller competitors.

Private Equity’s Focused Strategy

Private equity firms employ a similar strategy.

Vista, a billion-dollar private-equity firm, targets a narrow set of high-value customers.

Instead of catering to the masses, they focus on the few who can drive revenue at scale.

Identifying Key Players Drives Success

Power concentration isn’t limited to global or online platforms—it’s also prevalent within companies. Most organizational decisions depend on a few key individuals. Top sales professionals understand this dynamic well.

They map internal hierarchies, identify decision-makers, and tailor their efforts accordingly. Success in sales doesn’t come from marketing to everyone—it comes from securing buy-in from the right people.

Posthog's ICP

The Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) is a tool that helps companies operationalize this insight. PostHog, for example, maintains a detailed ICP document that identifies and defines their target audience.

By knowing exactly who to target, companies increase their chances of closing high-impact deals. Relationship-building isn’t just a soft skill—it’s a strategic advantage rooted in understanding how influence works.

This is the 20 part of the 80/20 rule. By focusing on the top 20% via ICP, companies can drive 80% of their significant revenue.

Power Concentration Faces Censorship

Attempts to highlight power concentration often face resistance. For example, the Reddit post that pointed out how a few individuals control many subreddits was quickly removed.

Before its deletion, someone archived the post as an Imgur screenshot. This incident underscores the challenges of discussing power dynamics openly but once you see this, you can't unsee it.

Knowing Key Players Matters

Whether on Reddit, in global markets, or within companies, a small number of individuals shape the experiences, outcomes, and realities for everyone else. These are the people who hold influence.

Identifying these key players gives any individual or company a clearer path to progress. Alienating them limits opportunities, as these decision-makers control budgets, access, distribution, and direction. The smart move is to identify them early and build relationships intentionally. This isn’t manipulation—it’s realism.

Elon Musk exemplifies this dynamic. Despite claiming to be a free speech absolutist, he complies with demands from countries like Brazil and India to protect his platform’s daily active users (DAU). He understands the importance of not alienating key players who hold significant influence.

Similarly, John Cena was forced to apologize for referring to Taiwan as a "country" after facing backlash from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), who controlled the distribution of his movie "Fast & Furious 9" in China. Both cases highlight how individuals and companies prioritize relationships with powerful entities to safeguard their interests.

In any system dominated by concentrated control, success hinges on access to the few who matter most.

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