Analysing Reddit

Using data I collected from Reddit for RedditTrends I found some interesting spikes in the number of votes submitted articles receive.


This graph shows the sum total of UP votes received per day by submitted links.



This graph shows the sum total of DOWN votes received per day by submitted links.

As you can see, the graphs are normally quite static, but have huge spikes every now and again, which are massively out of kilter with the normal every day average.


This graph shows the total score achieved which should be = UP votes - DOWN votes. On one positive note, users of Reddit are twice as likely to UP vote a link than to DOWN vote a link.



When this is compared to the total number of comments its clear to see that the spike around January is a natural one. It seems to correspond with Obamas election and inauguration.

The huge spike on 24th of April was effectively a revolt on Reddit over the number of duplicate stories. Dozens of links got vast numbers of UP and DOWN votes, mostly with the same title.