r/wokekids first appeared on the internet in 2017, and over the past 8 years, it has grown into a community of 272K followers, becoming one of the largest of its kind on the platform. Its members take pleasure in exposing people who make up false claims about their (sometimes non-existent) children’s accomplishments. However, the creator of the subreddit, u/_CodyB/, isn’t too pleased with what it has turned into.

“I started the sub as a meme, and it really took off for reasons outside of my control,” u/_CodyB/ told Bored Panda. “I’m extremely hands-off with it, and I actually kind of feel like the sub has gone to the dogs. Honestly, I’m thinking about shutting it down.”

The idea of retiring a subreddit with so many followers, especially when it’s doing quite well, might seem surprising. However, u/_CodyB/ believes it’s no longer as sincere as it once was—which is undeniably ironic, given that the subreddit is best known for mocking people who post online purely for attention.

“It was funny when I started because Reddit is filled with so much karma baiting,” the creator of r/wokekids said. The term refers to posting content just to gain upvotes and boost a user’s reputation, known as “karma.” “But then eventually the sub meant to satirize karma baiting became the same thing.”

“Once upon a time, you could look to Reddit for proper discourse about pretty much any subject—mind you, I still think Reddit is probably the best mainstream social media outlet for that,” u/_CodyB/ added. “But it’s become obviously worse with the rise of bots. I am a firm believer in the ‘dead internet theory,’ and I think it’s just a matter of time before the internet becomes useless for most things.”

Another reason the subreddit has drifted from its original purpose is tied to its name. When u/_CodyB/ first called it “woke kids,” the term “woke” had a different meaning—more about being aware of social issues rather than being used sarcastically or as a pejorative.

“It’s difficult for me to properly define,” they explained. “I meant it to be something like recounting a conversation where the protagonist (in their mind) said something perfectly mindful and in line with the beliefs of their intended audience.”

However, u/_CodyB/ doesn’t think the shifting definition of the term “woke” has significantly impacted what gets posted on the subreddit. The real issue, they feel, is that it’s no longer a space where people meaningfully engage with one another. “It’s still about kids saying absurdly profound things. Except it's no longer genuine.”