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简体中文The online world’s fascination with Luigi Mangione, accused in the Brian Thompson case, is pushing Reddit’s content moderation policies to their limits.
Since December, Luigi Mangione has become a significant online figure, sparking both criticism and support following accusations in the case involving UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. This notoriety has led to the rapid growth of online communities, some of which have seen an increase in discussions containing violent rhetoric.
Recently, a moderator from the established subreddit r/popculture faced suspension for approving numerous comments—deemed excessive by Reddit standards, meaning 20 or more—that directly advocated violence. These comments related to discussions about Mangione.
A post on r/popculture stated the subreddit was placed in restricted mode, and the main moderator was suspended for approving comments mentioning ‘luigi.’ The post claimed that even mentioning ‘luigi’ was against the rules, despite a lack of prior notice, with all comments containing the name being flagged for potentially inciting violence.
While some users reported blocks or censorship for simply mentioning Mangione, a Reddit spokesperson clarified that there’s no site-wide ban on the name “Luigi,” nor is there an expectation for users to avoid discussing Mangione. The suspension of the r/popculture moderator resulted from allowing comments promoting violence, violating the platform’s Mod Code of Conduct.
Despite this crackdown, various other subreddits dedicated to Mangione remain active. r/FreeLuigi, which describes itself as a hub for updates on the Luigi Mangione case, boasts approximately 37,000 followers. A r/FreeLuigi moderator told Slate that the subreddit does not condone violence against health insurance CEOs, stating that, “No one in r/FreeLuigi wants anyone to get murdered, and no one is celebrating that a man died.”
Reddit’s safety team has also issued warnings to users, indicating that subreddits promoting or amplifying violent content could face consequences. The alert mentioned a new enforcement action where users who upvote multiple pieces of content banned for policy violations within a certain timeframe will receive a warning. Upvotes and downvotes are integral to Reddit’s algorithm, influencing a post’s visibility.
The message concluded by noting that while the system currently issues warnings only, additional enforcement measures might be implemented in the future.