Popular social sharing site Reddit will soon be launching a test to a percentage of its visitors to automatically rewrite links to some 1,500 online merchants so they include a Reddit affiliate code.
The test, which will go live on June 6, 2016, will provide Reddit a percentage of any purchases after someone clicks a link with one of those affiliate codes.
According to Reddit, the initiative is meant to "transform Reddit into a sustainable long-term business."
The feature will work by passing clicks through VigLink, which rewrites the URLs to include an affiliate code. VigLink is contractually obligated not to store any Reddit user information. Anyone who does not want to participate in this will have the option to opt-out via a setting in user preferences.