Today marks Reddit’s 20th anniversary. It continues to be the only website that truly embodies the internet in its most authentic, bold, and organic form. To commemorate Reddit’s two decades, I want to highlight one event that perfectly captures the spirit of its vibrant online communities: r/Place.
A Social Experiment Like No Other
Before diving into r/Place, let’s briefly revisit Reddit’s origins. Established on June 23, 2005, by Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian, and later joined by Aaron Swartz, the platform has grown into what many call “the front page of the internet.”
Reddit co-founders Alexis Ohanian (center) and Steve Huffman (right), with Chris Slowe (left)
Over the last twenty years, Reddit has become home to countless communities that cover virtually every topic imaginable. It features everything from AMAs and shitposts to deep dives, debates, memes, movements, and even touching moments. Reddit truly offers something for everyone, while also playing a crucial role in many significant causes and social movements.
So, where does r/Place fit into all of this? r/Place is a short-lived event lasting 3 to 4 days, open to every Reddit user. It first launched on April Fools’ Day in 2017 and was brought back in 2022 and 2023. During this event, each participant can place a single pixel on a large, blank canvas every 5 to 20 minutes.
That’s all — just a pixel. However, when millions of Redditors collaborated, the canvas blossomed into more than simple colors; it transformed into a dynamic mosaic. Small national flags, pop culture icons, tributes to legends, subreddit mascots, memes within memes—all emerged on a shared digital space. Communities coordinated through Discord servers and subreddits, fandoms united to defend their territory, and sometimes they coexisted peacefully.
My Favorite Moments from r/Place
The canvas was always full of chaos, as millions attempted to guard their creations, leading to drama between subreddits. Occasionally, these tensions extended beyond the platform. For example, Twitch streamers from France and Spain clashed to overwrite each other’s flags, with others joining the fray to oppose France.
Yet, there were also humorous moments, like the Canadian community’s struggle to correctly render their flag’s red maple leaf. Meanwhile, to the left, the French crafted a full Eiffel Tower right before their eyes. My favorite moment was when the Canadians simply surrendered and transformed their maple leaf into a banana.
In addition, the mosaic included many pop culture references, such as Among Us, SpongeBob SquarePants, Marvel, Star Wars, and video games like Hollow Knight and Elden Ring. There were also attempts by some users to erase all artwork by filling the canvas with a black void, prompting communities to band together and defend their creations. This made for one of the most compelling forms of storytelling.
Reddit Is 20, and r/Place Is Still the Most Reddit Thing Ever
As mentioned, r/Place was a short-lived living canvas—and a beautiful embodiment of chaos. But that was intentional. It mirrored Reddit’s self-regulating, endlessly imaginative, and wonderfully imperfect society, condensed into a shared space. It felt like witnessing a democracy or anarchy in action—or perhaps both. Whatever it was, it was quintessentially Reddit.
That’s the magic of this platform. It’s a melting pot of cultures where even the most niche interests find a place. That’s why I fell in love with Reddit when I created my account back in 2017. Unlike other platforms, it felt genuine and allowed me to be myself. I also owe my career to Reddit—it was where I landed my first writing gig, launching my journey into tech journalism.
So, while celebrating Reddit’s 20th anniversary, I don’t focus on any single subreddit or community. Instead, I remember the living digital mosaic crafted pixel by pixel by users like you and me. The chaotic creativity no other site can match. I sincerely hope Reddit revives r/Place again this year to mark this extraordinary milestone.