Perplexity
GeminiDownvoted by ChatGPT
Sure, Reddit signed data deals with everyone. Yes, it’s the internet’s favourite place to ask for recommendations. But on August 14, ChatGPT quietly stopped citing it. Promptwatch measured reddit.com falling from 3.8% of ChatGPT citations to 0.5% in four days. Nobody at OpenAI wrote a blog post about it, which is how you know it was important.
WSWall St Engine@wallstengineReddit’s share of ChatGPT Search citations fell from an average 3.8% between July 18 and Aug. 7 to just 0.5% from Aug. 14-17…
Aug 19, 2026 · View on X
Google did not follow. In our own sample, reddit.com showed up in 18.6% of Google AI Overviews answers and 1.3% of ChatGPT answers (Getting Named, 4,656 answers, Sep 1 to 6, 2026).
Upvoted by Google
Reddit, a website best known for arguing about whether a hot dog is a sandwich, is now one of the most cited sources in Google’s AI answers. Somewhere an SEO consultant is already selling a “Reddit GEO audit” for $4,000. You can do it yourself for free.
| Engine | Answers cite reddit.com | Change since Aug |
|---|---|---|
| Google AI Overviews | 18.6% | +0.4 pts |
| Perplexity | 9.2% | −1.1 pts |
| ChatGPT | 1.3% | −2.5 pts |
That means the thread Google wants from you is one you can reply to this week.
The one-hour playbook
- Search “[your category] reddit” and “[competitor] alternative reddit”. Open every thread from the last 12 months. Usually 5 to 15.
- Paste each question into Google and check which threads the AI Overview cites. Those are the ones that count.
- Reply as yourself, with “I run [product]” in the first line. One paragraph: who it suits, who it does not, price. Sales copy gets deleted.
- Ask two customers to post their own take in the same thread. Do not write it for them. Reddit can smell a ghostwriter.
- Re-check the AI Overview in 3 to 4 weeks.
Getting NamedA reply that works looks like this, rough edges included:
“I run Invoicr, so grain of salt. It’s $9 a month and built for solo freelancers. If you have a team or need payroll, Ledgerly is the better pick.”
Karma, realistically
Ten threads is about an hour. Expect your name in the answer for 1 or 2 of every 5 threads you reply to. Not all of them. If you get all five, please email us, we would like to know what you did.
FAQ
Will ChatGPT bring Reddit back?+
Maybe. It has changed sources three times this year. The replies still count on Google either way, so the hour isn’t wasted.
Can I use a brand account?+
No. Personal accounts with a history get replies upvoted. Brand accounts get downvoted, then screenshotted.
Does this work for local businesses?+
Yes. Search “[your city] [your service] reddit”. City subreddits are cited often for local questions.