Reddit is being applauded for quickly nixing a subreddit dedicated to finding shooters involved in killing a dozen people Monday at Washington Navy Yard.
As it turns out, authorities are now saying they believe only one shooter was involved -- Aaron Alexis, an IT worker and he was killed by police.
[MORE REDDIT:9 Super Useful Subreddits networking pros should follow]
The banned subreddit, dubbed "findnavyyardshooters," now brings you to the image shown here:
Reddit general manager Erik Martin told the Washington Post that "We banned it because it violated site rules by encouraging the posting of personal information. The quote from the side bar that subreddit that was banned said 'no personal information about leads unless you are really sure.' We do not allow the posting of personal information under any circumstances.""
Martin told TechCrunch that the subreddit was also seen as a troll site, created simply to generate trouble.
Mashable reported that the subreddit showed up around 1:15 pm Monday and was inaccessible 2 hours later.
Comments on Reddit's swift action Monday were generally positive:
"The witch hunt that erupted on Reddit in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing was downright disgraceful. I'm glad that Reddit nipped this one in the bud," wrote IphtashuFitz.
Reddit actually did have at least one subreddit at which participants could share safety and missing persons information related to the shootings.
The popular news aggregation site learned its lesson after a similar subreddit emerged after the Boston Marathon bombings in April and turned into an online witch hunt that even fingered a missing Brown University student who later turned up dead. Reddit apologized for what transpired because of the subreddit.
Bob Brown tracks network research in his Alpha Doggs blog and Facebook page, as well on Twitter and Google +.
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