Major Reddit Outage: Page Not Found Errors Reported Across The US

Mei Lin

4 min read

Post on May 17, 2025

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Extent of the Reddit Outage

Reports of the Reddit outage are flooding social media platforms, with users from numerous US states expressing their inability to access the site. DownDetector, a leading website tracking website outages, shows a massive spike in reported problems with Reddit, indicating a truly widespread issue. The outage appears to be affecting both the main Reddit website and the official mobile app, impacting a significant portion of the platform's user base.

• Geographic Scope: While the full extent is still being determined, early reports suggest a nationwide impact within the US, with users from coast to coast reporting problems.
• Affected Users: DownDetector is currently showing tens of thousands of reported outages. The actual number of affected users is likely much higher, given that not all users report outages to such services.
• Outage Duration: The duration of the outage remains unclear at this time. Reddit's official communication (if any) will be crucial in determining the expected resolution time.

Potential Causes of the Reddit Outage

Several factors could be contributing to this major Reddit outage. Determining the exact cause will require further investigation and official statements from Reddit. However, some potential causes include:

• Server Overload: A sudden surge in traffic, perhaps due to a trending topic or viral post, could overwhelm Reddit's servers, leading to widespread unavailability.
• Network Issues: Problems with Reddit's underlying network infrastructure, including routers, switches, or internet connections, could disrupt service.
• Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Attack: A malicious DDoS attack aims to flood a server with traffic, rendering it unavailable to legitimate users. While not confirmed, this is a possibility in any large-scale outage.
• Software Glitch: A software bug or unexpected error within Reddit's internal systems could also cause such a widespread disruption.
• Planned or Unplanned Maintenance: Although less likely given the scale of the outage, it is possible that unplanned maintenance or a poorly executed planned maintenance event could be the culprit.

At this time, Reddit has not yet issued an official statement regarding the cause of the outage. We will update this article as more information becomes available.

Impact of the Reddit Outage

The impact of this major Reddit outage extends beyond simple user inconvenience. The disruption is causing significant frustration among millions of users, many of whom rely on the platform for various reasons:

• User Frustration: The inability to access communities, participate in discussions, or receive updates is causing widespread frustration among Reddit's user base. Many users are taking to other social media platforms to express their dissatisfaction and seek information about the outage.
• Community Disruption: The outage disrupts the online communities that thrive on Reddit. Scheduled events, discussions, and collaborations are all being affected, leading to potential losses in community engagement and productivity.
• Business Impact: Businesses utilizing Reddit for marketing, customer service, or community building are also experiencing disruptions. The inability to engage with customers or monitor brand mentions can have significant business implications.

Finding Alternatives During the Reddit Outage

While Reddit is down, users can explore alternative platforms to maintain their online interactions and information gathering:

• Twitter: Ideal for real-time updates, news, and quick discussions.
• Facebook Groups: Offers a space for community building and discussion around specific topics.
• Discord: A popular platform for creating and joining communities around shared interests.
• Other Forums: Numerous online forums cater to various niches and interests, offering alternative spaces for discussion.

Conclusion

This major Reddit outage, causing widespread "page not found" errors across the US, has significantly impacted millions of users and highlighted the crucial role the platform plays in online communication and community building. The precise cause remains to be determined, but the extent of the disruption is undeniable. The impact on users, communities, and businesses underscores the importance of robust infrastructure and contingency planning for online platforms.

Call to Action: Stay tuned to this page and other news sources for updates on this ongoing Reddit outage. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on the restoration of Reddit services and the resolution of the "page not found" errors affecting US users. Check back regularly for updates on this major Reddit outage.