Why does Reddit think I’m Indian all of a sudden. As in South Asia?

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Xanthn@reddit

Sorry to necro this post, but I've been noticing this for quite a while now.....it gets worse!!!!! Now I, when commenting in English speaking subs, as an Australian, even in Australian subs, Reddit warns me that the sub is in a different language to the one I use! Arghhh!

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Polz34@reddit

I've never had it on Reddit, but YouTube adverts either think I'm a man or a mother. I am neither so don't really care about nappies, milk formula or the most amazing new men's aftershave!

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Agarwel@reddit

Youtube is also weird. The way it is pushing gambling and alcoholism at me is almost ridiculous. But Im kind of glad - Im strongly against betting and I almost dont drink (only occasionaly when gifted some wine....). So the good news is that these ads are at least not going to influence me to purchase something. It is kind of weird that the algo is not able to show me ads for my hobbies - like based on my search history :-D

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Goosepond01@reddit

Had the exact same thing happen to me too, no VPN or anything like that, I've always had a tiny handful of foreign content on my feed but now it's an absolute boatload of posts and the subs are all called stuff like 'indianfunny' 'indiacars'

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Agarwel@reddit

You can in settings - preferences - muted communinties. It is more work, but at least this way you dont interact with the sub, so the algo is not like "hey he clicked on it, lets give him more!!!!". Unfortunateally I muted dozens and dozens of indian subs and new ones are still popping up in the feed.

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apeliott@reddit

I've noticed a ton of Indian themed subs that have suddenly shown up a lot in the past few months. I'm guessing reddit changed something.

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Mundane-Laugh8562@reddit

Indians are the largest internet demographic in the free world, and they're discovering Reddit only in the past few months: https://www.reddit.com/r/wallstreetbets/comments/1lk8qm3/reddit_is_invading_india_harder_than_the_redcoats/ What you're seeing is starting stages of the Indianisation of Reddit

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razza357@reddit

Lmao 'free world'

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Mundane-Laugh8562@reddit

What's wrong in that?

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MaximumAd6557@reddit (OP)

It’s very oddly specific. India?

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BradlinhoM@reddit

I’ve had the same thing with Philippines based subs recently

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apeliott@reddit

Yeah, I know. I've been here over ten years and I've never seen anything like this before. Lots of other people have been mentioning it as well.

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MaximumAd6557@reddit (OP)

Well at least it’s not just me and you.

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Fuzzy_Cut_9104@reddit

Same here...

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Fuzzy_Cut_9104@reddit

Same here...

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MasterFrost01@reddit

I think the Indian subreddits are just big and popular so the algorithm assumes you'll like it. As soon as I subscribed to the subreddits of some of my local cities I started getting suggestions for city subreddits in America. Clearly the algorithm thought they were similar enough

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Quantum_Tangle_1905@reddit

Microphones on our phones must be picking up more Indian accents! 🤣

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Sad_Sultana@reddit

Yup I've been getting loads too, from england

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Cool-Employee-109@reddit

GeoIP is NOWHERE near accurate, it's very possible that your ISP has bought some IP range from an Indian ISP and you're coming out of one of those addresses. It takes a long while before the databases update.

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MaximumAd6557@reddit (OP)

😳

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ComradeBirdbrain@reddit

You’re not the only one. I have it across the board but only on this device. The other devices I have use VPN based in Latvia and all I get are Latvia ads and recommendations. I guess there is a concerted effort to promote India 🤷‍♂️

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MaximumAd6557@reddit (OP)

Thanks for your reply, and every one else’s. At least I don’t feel picked on now!!🙄🤣

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MassimoTrunkamide@reddit

Have you used a VPN?

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MaximumAd6557@reddit (OP)

Yes, but only sometimes. I work in Ireland half the year and use a vpn for getting iPlayer etc.

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MassimoTrunkamide@reddit

That's why then, The VPN could be registered in some Tinpot republic and the IP could be linked to that location.

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MaximumAd6557@reddit (OP)

Ooerr. It’s good to know that it’s not just me!

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Lenniel@reddit

Same has happened to me today too

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SlightProgrammer@reddit

Yes, I keep getting the same 4 or 5 subs even though I'm not interested and have never interacted.

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External-Praline-451@reddit

You can turn off recommended subs in the settings. I used to get recommended loads of football ones and it got really annoying.

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MaximumAd6557@reddit (OP)

Indian??

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West_Category_4634@reddit

Just an example - But if you're education focused, have family values, hard working, and like to save money / be frugal....then I can seen why Reddit may think you're Indian.

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fimbleinastar@reddit

Happened to me after the cricket series. Let's just say pro Indian cricket circles are not the space for calm and rational discussion.

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MaximumAd6557@reddit (OP)

But who told Reddit that I watched every single ball of all 5 tests? (I had surgery which meant I mostly sat on my arse for 6 weeks.)

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danjel888@reddit

You been using a VPN to have a wank?

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MaximumAd6557@reddit (OP)

No. I’m right handed.

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TheNathanNS@reddit

On the opposite side, YouTube recommended me videos about Valencia bus schedules for the week, and I'm from the Midlands and never set foot in Spain.

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Ekalips@reddit

Might be because vpns mess up algorithms. This happens to both ads and content suggestions. Many people from different countries might use the same VPN service and because there literally are a lot of Indians they might just sway the algorithm towards their subs. For the algorithm it just looks like all these people in this (VPN) region are interested in UK subs (ie Brits using VPN) and in Indian subs (Indians using VPN) so might as well recommend them common subredits. It actually might become a big problem for content platforms with ads because they would fail to target ads properly which would reduce ad success and hence demand for buying ad spaces. In the end UK companies wouldn't be able to advertise themselves (it's bad) and platforms wouldn't be able to sell ads which might lead to exodus. Imagine if YouTube stops recommending UK channels to Brits because it can't properly show ads on them, you'll see the whole British YouTube segment just dying.

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I_want_roti@reddit

Considering I'm Indian it's interesting I haven't been messed with that algorithm

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BoopingBurrito@reddit

Because the algorithm is shit, and is getting shitter.

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Groovy66@reddit

Same. I’ve no interest in the subcontinent

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CalmdownpleaseII@reddit

Namaste

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sjintje@reddit

We're going to look back on this empire business as a big mistake.

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Slashyb@reddit

Yep same for me too - weirdly specific Indian location subreddits too. I think it might have been related to a VPN location I was using.

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Mr_Bumcrest@reddit

Is this a UK based question, really?

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