ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the reader to the approach and methods used in this book to examine Reddit. It provides brief explanations as to what Reddit is, where it came from, and how it is used. It explains two uses of Reddit: as a content sorter and as a site of discourse. It then briefly explains Reddit user roles: administrator, moderator, contributor, constituent, visitor. It also explains the voting system used to collectively rank posts and comments on the platform. It concludes with a consideration of the different ways in which Reddit can be studied, providing the reader with a clear picture of how the rest of the book will help them to understand Reddit.
