Reddit turns text posts into audio and video — limited test begins August 17

Reddit has started testing a new way to consume text posts: users will be able to listen to them as audio or watch them as video. The experiment launched on August 17 in select English-language communities within the Reddit apps for iOS and Android.

When a post supports the new format, users will see an option to switch between traditional reading and playback. The audio version is designed for situations where the user is not looking at the screen — for example, while walking, working out, or doing other tasks. The video format will combine voice narration with visual elements, such as on-screen text and stock footage.

Reddit explains that similar content presentation methods are already used on other platforms, particularly TikTok and Instagram Reels. On those services, stories are often narrated with synthetic or author-recorded voices, while text and external video clips are overlaid on screen.

The new formats will not replace the original posts. Users will still have full access to the text and comments and can interact with them as usual. Reddit emphasizes that this is a limited test, and the company will evaluate the results before deciding whether to expand the feature more broadly.