Yep! Just got out this morning!

I finally got it!

If it is not funded through user donations, how is it self sufficient? Genuinely curious.

What would the checkmark mean?

Wikipedia is set up as a nonprofit. They have annual fundraising drives asking their users for money. They also have an endowment and receive grants.

A donation drive could be a good model but the decentralized nature of the platform would complicate things.

Same. Always kinda talked myself out of commenting on reddit because my comments would never be engaged with. Felt like I missed the boat there. Time to start over and build a new community.

Yeah. I think this is pretty much the accepted narrative. Kill the 3P apps -> Consolidate the user base -> Serve everyone adds -> Hopefully turn a profit -> Go public or sell the company -> Founders/Investors cash out and profit.

The collateral damage is that they risk killing the culture that makes Reddit a place people want to congregate.